Perceived usefulness of innovation programs for high‐tech and low‐tech firms

Abstract

PurposeDespite the sizable amount of previous research on this topic, little is known about the reasons why firms decide to start collaboration projects with innovation advanced service providers, such as universities and technological institutes. This paper aims to investigate which factors at an individual firm level are involved in these collaborative strategies on supporting product and management improvements offered by local institutions to innovative firms.Design/methodology/approachThe research is contextualized in the Valencian region and applies the resource based view and the regional innovation system approach as theoretical frameworks. Methodologically, the paper adopts a cross‐sectional analysis and employs ordered regression models on a sample of innovative firms during 2009.FindingsFirstly, this paper endorses previous research suggesting the crucial role of cooperation and external knowledge on SME innovation. Secondly, it evidences how internal resources and capabilities determine a firm's use of public supported innovation. Thirdly, previous experience appears to be extremely relevant in explaining successful engagement in both technological and managerial innovation programs.Research limitations/implicationsBecause the case study approach and qualitative methodologies are used, the authors advise readers not to generalize their findings. The research on the subject matter is offered as a means to substantiate or refute the latest research premises, and provide empirical evidence on the selected region.Originality/valueAlthough this paper corroborates recent contributions, it does provide some novel findings. High‐level managerial capabilities seem to discourage the use of public programs supporting innovation practices (either in technological or managerial aspects), while engagement in university programs relies heavily on the firm's technological capabilities or exposure to global competition, and less on other characteristics. Policy makers should pay particular attention to both pieces of evidence when designing programs.

Firm survival: The role of incubators and business characteristics

“…Data originate from the autonomous region of the Comunitat Valenciana, a region located in the south east of Spain. The economic base of the region has broadened with the addition of other productive activities (Belso, 2013a). In this sense, the Comunitat Valenciana represents a suitable case for analyzing the role of incubators.…”

Open Innovation in Universities: The Relationship Between Innovation and Commercialisation

“…Gaps in innovative efforts have been noticeable between university research interests and commercial or business interests. These gaps were particularly relevant in the final stages of the value chain; too much emphasis has been placed by universities on basic research and higher education teaching as distinct from the knowledge created for commercial interests (Belso‐Martínez, ).…”

“…It should be noted that the contributing factors for poor commercialisation in Malaysia are similar across developing worlds and not fully realised in developed worlds. For example, we discussed earlier the lack of research related to collaborative research efforts generally and the paucity of research related to the MI between service providers (Zhang and Li, ; Belso‐ Martínez, ), particularly in a university setting. This paper has focused on the idea of OI for building trust relationships with other relevant innovation actors; mutual sharing of resources such as ideas, people, funding and technology play an important part in cooperative efforts.…”

“…For most universities, gaps between research and commercial interests have been noted. The main concerns have related to (1) the final stages of the value chain, (2) too much emphasis placed by universities on basic research and (3) higher education teaching as distinct from the knowledge created for commercial interests (Belso‐Martínez, ).…”

“…Although, initially, innovation in services has focused on sectors with high economic relevance (such as banking and telecommunications), the study of innovation processes in other sectors (such as in higher education sector, tourism, health and food industry) is only more recent (Consoli and Mina, ; Castro‐Martínez, ; Mäkimattila et al ., ). For instance, researchers contend that we know little about the type of firm characteristics required to promote collaboration between firms and external entities (Belso‐Martínez, ), and there is a paucity of research on the motivations to innovate within service providers such as universities and technology centres (Zhang and Li, ). Similarly, a high trust environment appears to be critical given two context‐specific environments such as the university laboratory and the commercial market (Lee, ).…”