Innovation modes and strategies in knowledge intensive business services

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“…The non-innovative companies cluster was the largest, about 25% of the total sample of firms that report little innovation of any type. 9 Such a cluster was also identified over the course of European studies of KIBS [Asikainen, 2015] and is found in studies of innovation configurations in many sectors. 10 The organizationally oriented innovators cluster comprises companies that use organizational innovations and whose customers, as they step up their own innovation activity, demand increasingly customized services.…”

“…Customers, suppliers, and competitors are major sources [Corrocher et al, 2009;Rodriguez et al, 2015], while partners such as franchises or professional associations are another [Rodriguez, Camacho, 2010]. A third way of acquiring specialized knowledge and information is to purchase it, in particular, from consulting firms [Asikainen, 2015]. Finally, KIBS firms may cooperate with the "science base" of universities and research centers, and of course they gather information by participating in relevant conferences and perusing research publications [Doloreux and Shearmur, 2010;Asikainen, 2015].…”

“…A third way of acquiring specialized knowledge and information is to purchase it, in particular, from consulting firms [Asikainen, 2015]. Finally, KIBS firms may cooperate with the "science base" of universities and research centers, and of course they gather information by participating in relevant conferences and perusing research publications [Doloreux and Shearmur, 2010;Asikainen, 2015]. A third group of factors used in considering KIBS companies' modes of innovation comprises relevant expenditures.…”

“…However, KIBS companies frequently lack specialized R&D departments and place much emphasis on the role of human capital [Schricke et al, 2012]. Therefore in-house and external staff training and other personnel development activities become important areas for expenditures [Corrocher et al, 2009;Asikainen, 2015;Rodriguez et al, 2015]. As in other industries, another major spending area, often the largest, can also be understood as expenditures on external sources of knowledge and information.…”

“…This includes the acquisition of specialized equipment, software and other information and communication technologies as well as data procured from consulting companies [Doloreux, Shearmur, 2010;Rodriguez, Camacho, 2010]. Finally, the protection of intellectual property is an important innovation-related investment area [Asikainen, 2015]. Patents are not particularly relevant for most in the KIBS sector, though there are exceptions for some T-KIBS.…”