Cooperation and novelty innovation: a study for Argentina

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the influence of cooperation on the degree of novelty of technological innovations introduced by industrial firms in Argentina. This influence is analysed from three perspectives: cooperation by partner type [business partners or scientific and technological centres (S&T) partners]; cooperation by number of partner types, from no cooperation to cooperation with two partner types; and cooperation by goals pursued by firms. Design/methodology/approach The data come from one of the last national innovation surveys conducted in Argentina. The study controls for endogeneity, using instrumental variable procedures within the conditional mixed-process (CMP) framework. Findings The main result is the influence of cooperation with universities and S&T centres on the introduction of more novel innovations, which was found both in estimations with and without endogeneity correction. This influence was verified for more complex goals (R&D, technology transfer and industrial design and engineering) as well as for less complex ones (tests and trials, human resources training, quality management and certification). Business cooperation seems to impact only on a lower degree of novelty for more complex goals. The increase in the number of partners that the firm cooperates with, from no cooperation to joint cooperation with two partner types, influences more novel innovations. Research limitations/implications Limitations and proposals for future research are discussed at the end of the study. Practical implications The results of this study contrast with the high propensity to cooperate with business partners shown by firms in Argentina and other Latin American countries. Therefore, this paper may help formulate more effective policies to promote cooperation conducive to firm innovation performance. Limitations and proposals for future research are discussed at the end of the study. Originality/value Although there is empirical evidence on this topic for developed countries, firm-level studies on cooperation and degree of novelty are scarce for Latin America. In addition, this paper analyses cooperation not only by type of partner but also by type of goal. This study attempted to control for endogeneity by using instrumental variables within the CMP framework.

Emergence of Product and Service Innovations of Different Level of Novelty in Knowledge Intensive SMEs: The Role of Open Innovation Patterns

“…From a sales perspective, it was found that extramural R&D investments increased the proportion of sales from high novelty products more than from low novelty products (Goméz, Salazar and Vargas, 2020). Pasciaroni and Barbero (2021) found that with growing amount of collaboration networks, level of novelty innovation grows. We adopted slightly different approach to rather answer the question whether extramural knowledge support emergence of both innovation of higher and lower level of novelty.…”

“…The discussion on role of collaboration networks in case of emergence of innovations that are novel on different spatial levels can be considered just as emerging (Goméz, Salazar and Vargas, 2020;Pasciaroni and Barbero, 2021). This study is to our best knowledge the first to adopt the approach of classifying innovation novelty in relation to spatial levels (new to international, national, regional and local markets), which is in line with approaches used in Community innovation surveys (Knell and Srholec, 2005).…”

Trust and opportunism in the competitiveness of small‐scale timber businesses based on innovation and marketing capabilities

“…These companies need to cooperate to alleviate the scarcity of resources (Pasciaroni & Barbero, 2021). Cooperation requires trust (Arnold, 2018).…”

Gender Diversity, Innovation, and Open Innovation in the Caribbean Region

“…Many (Chesbrough, 2006). Existing literature provides evidence for the positive impact of open innovation, where a combination of internal and external knowledge and technology can help firms improve the innovation process (Belderbos et al, 2004;Bayona-Saez et al, 2017;Cheng and Huizingh, 2014;Laursen and Salter, 2006;Pasciaroni and Barbero, 2020;Van Beers and Zand, 2014). Among the determinant factors key to understanding R&D cooperation, the most relevant are firm size and intensity of innovation (Fritsch and Lukas, 2001).…”