Behind the Scenes: Sources of Complementarity in R&D

Marco Ceccagnoli, Matthew Higgins and Vincenzo Palermo

Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, 2014, vol. 23, issue 1, 125-148

Abstract: Management consultants increasingly recommend that internal R&D be outsourced; however, little is known about the substitution or complementarity between internal and external R&D. Through structural estimation of a flexible innovation production function we provide a deeper understanding of firm‐level drivers of complementarity between these two types of investments. Our analysis is based on a unique panel data set on the R&D and in‐licensing expenditures of pharmaceutical firms. Our results suggest that internal R&D and in‐licensing are neither complements nor substitutes. We find that the degree of complementarity is enhanced for firms with stronger absorptive capacity, economies of scope, and licensing experience.

Date: 2014
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (28)

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https://doi.org/10.1111/jems.12048

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Working Paper: Behind the Scenes: Sources of Complementarity in R&D (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:jemstr:v:23:y:2014:i:1:p:125-148

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