Title: Are KIBS more than intermediate inputs? An examination into their R&D diffuser role in Europe

Authors: Mercedes Rodriguez, Jose A. Camacho

Addresses: Department of Applied Economics, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, s/n, E-18170, Spain. ' Department of Applied Economics, University of Granada, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, s/n, E-18170, Spain

Abstract: It is widely accepted that Knowledge-Intensive Business Services (KIBS) are key agents in knowledge diffusion. Thanks in part to information technologies, an increasing internationalisation process has been taking place in this type of services in recent years. Starting from these two facts, the objectives of this paper are to evaluate and compare the Research and Development (R&D) diffuser role of a group of KIBS (called high-tech services) both within domestic economies and among countries. To do so, an input-output model that estimates the domestic and imported product-embodied R&D diffused by intermediate consumptions of high-tech services is applied in 11 European countries. The obtained results point out the existence of a potential |compensatory| role of imported high-tech services in some countries, a role that deserves further study.

Keywords: high-tech services; high technology; input-output; innovation; research and development; R&D diffusion; internationalisation; Europe.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSTM.2008.022122

International Journal of Services Technology and Management, 2008 Vol.10 No.2/3/4, pp.254 - 272

Published online: 19 Dec 2008 *

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