Title: On the explanation of horizontal, vertical and cross-sector R&D partnerships – evidence for the German industrial sector

Authors: Uschi Backes-Gellner, Frank Maass, Arndt Werner

Addresses: Institute for Strategy and Business Economics, University of Zurich, Plattenstrasse 14, CH-8032 Zurich, Switzerland. ' Institut fur Mittelstandsforschung Bonn (IfM Bonn), (Institute for Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Bonn), Maximilianstrabe 20, D – 53111 Bonn, Germany. ' Institut fur Mittelstandsforschung Bonn (IfM Bonn), (Institute for Small and Medium Size Enterprises, Bonn), Maximilianstrabe 20, D – 53111 Bonn, Germany

Abstract: This paper investigates the determinants of inter-firm cooperation in research and development (R&D). We analyse the impact of structural and firm specific characteristics, market performance, access to resources and managerial techniques on different types of inter-firm R&D cooperation. Based on a survey of 886 enterprises in manufacturing and industry/business-related services located in Germany, we estimate several models with different types of R&D partnerships as a dependent variable to find out which types of enterprises are more or less likely to form or join either type of R&D partnership. The findings suggest that the availability and the quality of a firm|s own R&D resources are common factors driving R&D cooperation in general. Differentiating between cooperation activities in R&D among enterprises on the same production level on the one hand and vertical cooperation between enterprises and suppliers/customers or cross-sector alliances between enterprises and public research institutes on the other hand, we find cooperation type specific determinants of entry. The size of a firm, its location, access to financial resources and network experience seem to be most important.

Keywords: cross-sector alliances; inter-firm cooperation; R&D cooperation; SMEs; collaboration; research and development; Germany; R&D partnerships; R&D networks; joint research activities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2005.006339

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2005 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.103 - 116

Published online: 22 Feb 2005 *

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