Title: Do corporate mergers bring about new combinations of knowledge? Empirical evidence from patent data

Authors: Atsushi Inuzuka

Addresses: The University of Tokyo, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan

Abstract: The aftereffects of corporate mergers, particularly whether corporate mergers facilitate new combinations of knowledge, were investigated using patent application data for two corporate mergers in the Japanese chemical industry. The results show that new combinations are more likely to occur after mergers and that the choice of a |new combinations| strategy can differ between companies. This strategic choice has an impact on the aftereffects of corporate mergers and the difference in strategic choice might depend on whether power and initiative reside in the same pre-merger firm.

Keywords: corporate mergers; new knowledge; knowledge combinations; patent applications; inventors; inventions; patents; after-effects; efficiency; effectiveness; collaboration; technology mapping; selection; concentration; Japan; chemical industry; knowledge management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKMS.2009.023465

International Journal of Knowledge Management Studies, 2009 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.40 - 59

Published online: 24 Feb 2009 *

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