Fostering R&D collaboration - The interplay of trust, appropriability and absorptive capacity

Abstract

Value creation in the present day markets demands new kind of managerial logic. One manifestation of this can be seen in relation to R&D collaboration: while importance of external knowledge and networks of relationships is undoubtedly increasing as a source of competitive advantage, collaborations still frequently fail. In order to avoid this, companies need to find ways to manage factors that have an effect not only on the outcomes of collaboration but on each other as well. Such important factors include trusting relationships, creating security through means such as contracts and intellectual property rights, and capabilities to absorb relevant knowledge. In this study we will examine these factors and their roles for R&D collaboration among 299 Finnish companies. Our results suggest that these factors are intertwined and that they are closely related to willingness to engage into R&D collaboration and the final outcomes. © 2007 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.