Patterns of local R&D cooperation of foreign subsidiaries in an intermediate countryinnovative and structural factors

  1. Antonio García Sánchez
  2. José Molero Zayas
  3. Rama Dellepiane, Ruth
Journal:
Documentos de trabajo = Working Papers ( Instituto Complutense de Estudios Internacionales ): Nueva época

ISSN: 2339-9570

Year of publication: 2016

Issue: 3

Type: Working paper

More publications in: Documentos de trabajo = Working Papers ( Instituto Complutense de Estudios Internacionales ): Nueva época

Abstract

We attempt to contribute to a better understanding of cooperative innovation patterns of foreign subsidiaries (FS) in Spain as a representative intermediate country, going deeply into three main aspects: firstly, a sectoral taxonomy which combines international technological dynamism and revealed technological advantage as a way to understand such patterns. Secondly we focus our attention on innovative intensive subsidiaries, assuming they are the most important ones for hosting countries. Thirdly, we combine innovation and structural-competitive variables to explain local cooperation. We found more intense cooperation of FS with local agents in dynamic specialization sectors, as well as the fact that this is mostly carried out in a complementary mode with inner knowledge capabilities of the companies. Cooperative activities are influenced by economicstructural factors of the Spanish economy, particularly in highly innovative companies. Cooperative strategies of domestic firms might also have an influence on those of foreign subsidiaries.