Technology Innovation in Korean Manufacturing Firms: Intra-Firm Knowledge Diffusion and Market Strategy in Patent Production

Abstract

This paper analyzes the factors that determine technology innovation in Korean manufacturing firms, focusing on the role of intra-firm knowledge diffusion and market strategy in patent production. For empirical analysis, zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) regression is applied to the 2009 Human Capital Corporate Panel data. The empirical findings confirm the critical role of intra-firm knowledge-sharing processes in technology innovation; firms with a market-leading strategy oriented to new product development also tend to be prolific in patent production.