Title: Knowledge alliances and innovation performance: an empirical perspective on the role of network resources

Authors: Robert Huggins; Andrew Johnston

Addresses: Cardiff School of City and Regional Planning, Cardiff University, Glamorgan Building, King Edward VII Avenue, Cardiff, CF10 3WA, UK. ' Centre for Individual and Organisational Development, Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield, S1 1WB, UK

Abstract: This paper draws on the notion of network resources to examine the association between such resources, in the form of knowledge alliances, and the innovation performance of firms, as well as the extent to which the geographic location of network partners influences this performance. We find that innovation performance is associated with a combination of both network resources and the internal characteristics of firms. In particular, we find that regionally-based network resources are more strongly associated with superior innovation performance. Knowledge alliances with local rival firms and knowledge-intensive business service providers (KIBS) are most strongly associated with superior innovation performance. Our findings suggest that spatial proximity is significant for establishing effective knowledge alliances.

Keywords: innovation performance; knowledge alliances; network resources; spatial proximity; regions; firm performance; geographic location; regional networks; knowledge-intensive business services; KIBS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2012.045547

International Journal of Technology Management, 2012 Vol.57 No.4, pp.245 - 265

Received: 10 Nov 2010
Accepted: 11 Jul 2011
Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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