R&D subsidies & external collaborative breadth: Differential gains and the role of collaboration experience

Chapman, Gary; Lucena, Abel; Afcha, Sergio

Abstract

External collaboration breadth is important for firms to acquire the knowledge needed to innovate. In this paper, we combine cross-sectional and longitudinal data from the Spanish Panel of Technological Innovation Survey (PITEC) to examine the indirect impact of R&D subsidies on firm external collaboration breadth. We contribute to understanding of the indirect impacts of R&D subsidies by first providing strong evidence of an economically significant average positive impact of R&D subsidies on firm external collaboration breadth. Second, our results advance understanding of the differential impacts of R&D subsidies by revealing the vast heterogeneity of the impact at the firm level, where approximately only half of treated firms experience a positive collaboration impact from R&D subsidies, while the remainder experience no impact or a negative effect. Finally, we advance understanding of the characteristics explaining the differential impact of R&D subsidies on external collaboration breadth by utilising the organisational learning literature to demonstrate the important role of firm collaboration experience.

Citation

Chapman, G., Lucena, A., & Afcha, S. (2018). R&D subsidies & external collaborative breadth: Differential gains and the role of collaboration experience. Research Policy, 47(3), 623-636. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.01.009

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 11, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Feb 17, 2018
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2018
• Deposit Date: Jun 22, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 22, 2022
• Journal: Research Policy
• Print ISSN: 0048-7333
• Electronic ISSN: 1873-7625
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 47
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 623-636
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.01.009
• Keywords: External Collaboration Breadth; R&D Subsidies; Differential Effects; Collaboration Experience; Innovation Policy; Treatment Effects
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8631568
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004873331830009X?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: R&D subsidies & external collaborative breadth: Differential gains and the role of collaboration experience; Journal Title: Research Policy; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2018.01.009