6533b82bfe1ef96bd128cde6

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Strengthening SMEs’ innovation culture through collaborations with public research organizations. Do all firms benefit equally?

Elena Castro-martínezPablo D'esteJulia Olmos-peñuelaAna García-granero

subject

Formal innovation planbusiness.industry05 social sciencesGeography Planning and DevelopmentPublic researchSMEsPublic relations050905 science studiesFirms-public research organizations collaborationsInnovation cultureWork (electrical)Firms–public research organizations collaborationsResearch council0502 economics and businessORGANIZACION DE EMPRESASChristian ministryBusinessCollaboration benefits0509 other social sciencesSearch strategyPROYECTOS DE INGENIERIA050203 business & management

description

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether collaborating with public research organizations (PROs) contributes to strengthening the innovation culture of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). We examine to what extent their innovation culture is reinforced by collaborations with research organizations and investigate the type of organizational strategies that enhance this effect of collaboration. The empirical study is based on a survey of firms that collaborate with the largest Spanish PRO, Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). Our results indicate that SMEs differ greatly in their capacity to strengthen their innovation culture through collaboration with research organizations. We show also that firms with formal innovation plans that develop internal and external search strategies are more likely to improve their innovation culture as a result of collaboration with PROs. These findings provide managers with new insights into how to strengthen their firms’ innovation culture through collaboration with research organizations.

10.1080/09654313.2017.1279592http://hdl.handle.net/10261/161751