A CROSS-COUNTRY APPROACH ON THE DRIVERS OF SUCCESS IN INTERNATIONAL R&D NETWORKS

Abstract

A strategy that plays a central role in the internationalized scenario of innovation is that of R&D collaboration. However, relationships among firms from different national settings increase the complexity of managerial processes, turning it into a relatively unstable organizational structure. To help shedding light on the economic and administrative activities involved in such linkages, our goal in this research lies in assessing simultaneously the influential aspects of firms’ results. These are expected to fall under three broad analytical dimensions: Microeconomic, Contextual and Macroeconomic. Logistic regressions were developed in order to identify determinants of success in terms of: a) technological outcomes; b) market achievements; and c) future expected accomplishments. Data is gathered from Eureka’s Final Reports (2000-2005) and uses data from Spanish, Italian, French, British, and German firms. Results highlight the core importance of the Contextual Dimension. The National Innovation System to which a given firm belongs to has marginal relevance (Macroeconomic Dimension), as well as firms’ characteristics (Microeconomic Dimension).

Keywords

• R&D cooperation
• Eureka Program
• European Union
• Innovation management