Working Paper: CEPR ID: DP8484
Authors: Rune Dahl Fitjar; Andrés Rodríguez-Pose
Abstract: This paper examines the sources of firm product and process innovation in Norway. It uses a purpose-built survey of 1604 firms in the five largest Norwegian city-regions to test, by means of a logit regression analysis, Jensen et al.?s (2007) contention that firm innovation is both the result of ?science, technology and innovation? (STI) and ?doing, using and interacting? (DUI) modes of firm learning. The paper classifies different types of firm interaction into STI-mode interaction (with consultants, universities, and research centres) and DUI-mode interaction, distinguishing between DUI interaction within the supply-chain (i.e. with suppliers and customers) or not (with competitors). It further controls for the geographical locations of partners. The analysis demonstrates that engagement with external agents is an important source of firm innovation and that both STI and DUI-modes of interaction matter. However, it also shows that DUI modes of interaction outside the supply chain tend to be irrelevant for innovation, with frequent exchanges with competitors having a detrimental effect on a firm?s propensity to innovate. Collaboration with extra-regional agents is much more conducive to innovation than collaboration with local partners, especially within the DUI mode.
Keywords: competitors; customers; DUI; firms; innovation; Norway; STI; suppliers; universities
JEL Codes: L14; O31; O32
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Engagement with external agents (O36) | firm innovation (L26) |
| STI interactions with universities (I23) | radical product innovation (O36) |
| STI interactions with universities (I23) | total product innovation (O36) |
| DUI interactions with suppliers (L14) | total process innovation (O31) |
| Collaboration with customers (O36) | radical product innovation (O36) |
| Collaboration with competitors (O36) | product innovation (O35) |
| Collaboration with competitors (O36) | radical product innovation (O36) |
| DUI interactions outside the supply chain (L14) | innovation outcomes (O36) |