SMEs’ External Technology R&D Cooperation Network Diversity and Their Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction and Energy Saving: A Moderated Mediation Analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to empirically reveal the effect of external technology R&D cooperation network diversity (ETRDCND) on the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction and energy saving of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Besides this, this study aims at analyzing the roles of production time reduction and absorptive capacity in the relationship between SMEs’ ETRDCND and their GHG emission reduction and energy saving. GHG emission and energy usage have been playing a crucial role in aggravating global warming. Global warming results in big problems such as worldwide unusual weather and health disorders. SMEs play a substantial role in the industrial growth of the global economy, which increases GHG emission and energy consumption. By performing the ordinary least squares regression with the data of 3300 South Korean SMEs, this research reveals four points. First, ETRDCND positively influences SMEs’ GHG emission reduction and energy saving. Second, production time reduction perfectly mediates the relationship between SMEs’ ETRDCND and their GHG emission reduction and energy saving. Third, the mediating role of production time reduction in this relationship is moderated by SMEs’ absorptive capacity. Fourth, ETRDCND significantly influences SMEs’ GHG emission reduction and their energy saving only if SMEs possess their own absorptive capacity.

Worldwide Research on Open Innovation in SMEs

“…In 2011-2020, we observed the higher development of this field of study, with scientific output increasing by 317 papers (80% of the total). In this decade, the research focused on the commitment of SMEs to assuming open innovation in their processes [3,27,118,119], the establishment and use of business models [120][121][122][123], business practices [31,[124][125][126] and the development of OI through local and global networks [127][128][129][130]. OI has been studied from the perspectives of absorptive capacity [23,35,[131][132][133], technological capabilities [134][135][136], dynamic capabilities [137,138], sustainability [139,140] and stakeholder theory [141][142][143][144].…”

Unpacking the importance of intangible skills in new product development and sustainable business performance; strategies for marketing managers

“…Globalization has brought a threatening competition among organizations either business or non-business, towards the new product development. To build the new products that result in sustainable competitive performance, some managers rely on tangible resources such as adopting a new technology [2,3] accessing sufficient financial capital [3,4]), and infrastructure [5,6], etc. However, others have faith in intangible resources such as intellectual capital [7,8], networking [9,10], market knowledge [11,12], and reputation [13,14]), etc.…”

“…Indeed, both the strategies (either building new products via tangible or intangible approach) is useful. For instance, one zone of research has given weight to the tangible factors [2,3,6], while others claimed that intangible resources and capabilities are more useful in response to the globalization [15,16]. Resource-Based View (RBV) also states that a firm needs both tangible and intangible resources for its sustainable competitive position and superior performance [17].…”

Impact of environmental sustainability on open innovation in SMEs: An empirical study considering the moderating effect of gender

“…Companies seeking to produce products with minimal environmental impact can leverage open innovation [ 6 ]. The open innovation model accentuates that companies can foster more effective innovations through external collaboration and internal knowledge networks [ 7 ]. Moreover, when environmental practices align with companies' innovation strategies, they can enhance business performance [ 8 ].…”