Networked R&D units: Case studies on knowledge transfer processes

Abstract

This paper aims at identifying the knowledge transfer processes developed among R&D units and the competencies that are locally created to earn power by knowledge within these global innovation networks. Te paper's empirical section is grounded on two multinationals with R&D units in Portugal, one from a Norwegian electronic multinational and another from a Spanish automotive component multinational. Crossing the theoretical debate with the empirical results we expect to offer an insight on the understanding of knowledge transfer processes. © 2011 IFIP International Federation for Information Processing.