Exploring the role of international R&D activities in the impact of technological and marketing capabilities on SMEs’ performance

Nebojsa S. Davcik, Silvio Cardinali, Piyush Sharma and Elena Cedrola

Journal of Business Research, 2021, vol. 128, issue C, 650-660

Abstract: One of the main challenges for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) is how to leverage their R&D activities in the international markets but current literature offers mixed evidence and inconclusive models in this regard. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the role of international R&D activities in the impact of SMEs’ technological and marketing capabilities on their performance. The authors use in-depth interviews with five Italian SMEs recognized as particularly innovative firms in their own sectors (retail intelligence, business training, shoes, food, and sportswear) to identify the factors driving the success and performance of their international R&D efforts. Findings show that SMEs’ technological and marketing capabilities have dominant and positive effects on their performance in the international markets. Besides extending the literature on the internationalization of R&D by SMEs, these findings highlight the major challenges and opportunities for the managers of internationally active SMEs.

Keywords: Marketing capabilities; Performance; Research and development (R&D); Small and medium enterprises (SMEs); Technological capabilities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (13)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jbrese:v:128:y:2021:i:c:p:650-660

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.04.042

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