Key knowledge providers as sources of innovation in firms

Abstract

Studies regarding innovation pay increasing attention to the relations that firms maintain with different actors in their environment. It is generally assumed that interaction with other firms, universities and governmental organizations can be sources of knowledge that can improve the ability to drive innovation. Nevertheless, there is scarce evidence with regard to the specific role firms give these partners as providers of useful knowledge for their innovation processes. In this paper we present research-based insights on the dynamics of the Triple Helix networks as a basis for innovation capacity building for firms in a catch-up region. Our main assumption is that firms that adopt an open collaboration strategy have a greater capacity to recombine different knowledge sources and adapt them to their innovation processes. We use a large set of indicators which enables us to identify what regional sources are considered by firms as important for gaining knowledge. By way of a survey of 737 firms located in a region in southern Spain (Andalusia), the analysis identifies types of firms which are characterized by how they focus their interest on specific groups of actors.