Title: Does inter-firm technological cooperation enhance innovation performance? An empirical study of high-tech SMEs in China

Authors: Dan Chen

Addresses: School of Management, Shandong University, 27 Shanda Nanlu, Shandong Province, Jinan 250100, China

Abstract: This study, utilising data drawn from a sample of 133 China|s high-tech Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs), examines the effect of inter-firm technological cooperation on product innovation. The framework builds on the emerging strategic management theories, including resourced-based view, knowledge-based view and dynamic capability view of the firm. Results are concluded as: Firm size, coupled with cooperation, has significant influence on patent creation; the success rate of cooperation increases as the number of cooperative projects increases; more firms engage in cooperative relationships, better firms perform in sales and profitability.

Keywords: high technology; high tech SMEs; small and medium-sized enterprises; inter-firm cooperation; product innovation; innovation performance; technological cooperation; China; strategic management; resourced-based view; knowledge-based view; dynamic capability; firm size; patent creation; sales; profitability.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIL.2010.034347

International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 2010 Vol.8 No.2, pp.149 - 169

Published online: 01 Aug 2010 *

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