Optimal cognitive distance and absorptive capacity

Bart Nooteboom (), Wim Vanhaverbeke, Geert Duysters (), Victor Gilsing and Ad van den Oord
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Ad van den Oord: Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research

No 33, Discussion Paper from Tilburg University, Center for Economic Research

Abstract: In this paper we test the relation between cognitive distance and innovation performance of firms engaged in technology-based alliances. The key finding is that the hypothesis of an inverted U-shaped effect of cognitive distance on innovation performance of firms is confirmed. Moreover, as expected, we found that the positive effect for firms is much higher when engaging in more radical, exploratory alliances than in more exploitative alliances. The effect of cumulative RD turns out to be mixed. It may increase absorptive capacity, as expected, but there is clear evidence that it also reduces the effect of cognitive distance on novelty value.

JEL-codes: D21 L14 L22 L24 O31 O32 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-ino
Date: 2006
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Related works:
Working Paper: Optimal cognitive distance and absorptive capacity (2005)
Journal Article: Optimal cognitive distance and absorptive capacity (2007)
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