Article: Strategic R&D alliance factors that impact innovation success in the biotechnology industry Journal: International Journal of Technology Management (IJTM) 2012 Vol.59 No.1/2 pp.116 - 138 Abstract: This paper examined the impact of strategic R&D alliances on biomedical product innovation by small biotechnology firms in the USA. Inferential statistics involving logistic regression modelling was applied to analyse the influence of different types of collaborators on innovation success. The results showed that for start-up companies, an increase in the number of corporate partners was both positively and significantly associated with the firms' innovation success, as measured by successful product development to the commercialisation stage, but such relationship did not hold for older firms. Moreover, an increase in the number of alliances with universities had no statistically significant association with an improvement in the innovation performance of start-ups nor of older firms. These findings may help inform alliance management by technology managers as they assess and balance the composition of their network of R&D partners to optimise their strategic benefit. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Strategic R&D alliance factors that impact innovation success in the biotechnology industry

Authors: Kelly Y. Kim

Addresses: The George Washington University, 805 21st St, NW, Suite 601, Washington, DC 20052, USA

Abstract: This paper examined the impact of strategic R&D alliances on biomedical product innovation by small biotechnology firms in the USA. Inferential statistics involving logistic regression modelling was applied to analyse the influence of different types of collaborators on innovation success. The results showed that for start-up companies, an increase in the number of corporate partners was both positively and significantly associated with the firms' innovation success, as measured by successful product development to the commercialisation stage, but such relationship did not hold for older firms. Moreover, an increase in the number of alliances with universities had no statistically significant association with an improvement in the innovation performance of start-ups nor of older firms. These findings may help inform alliance management by technology managers as they assess and balance the composition of their network of R&D partners to optimise their strategic benefit.

Keywords: research and development; R&D; strategic alliances; product innovation; biotechnology industry; collaboration; partnerships; start-ups; biomedical products; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; USA; United States; inferential statistics; logistic regression modelling; collaborators; innovation success; start-up companies; corporate partners; commercialisation; universities; higher education; innovation performance; older firms; alliance management; technology managers; network composition; strategic benefits; technology management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2012.047252

International Journal of Technology Management, 2012 Vol.59 No.1/2, pp.116 - 138

Received: 28 Apr 2011
Accepted: 14 Oct 2011
Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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Title: Strategic R&D alliance factors that impact innovation success in the biotechnology industry

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