How do recombinative capabilities and technological proximity influence innovative performance ? A study on the ICT sector
Résumé
Firms? ability to recombine diverse knowledge fields is considered to be an important determinant of innovative capabilities. In addition, the literature on strategic alliances emphasizes the critical role of technological proximity between a firm and its alliance partners, when the firm accesses knowledge beyond its boundaries. In this paper, we investigate the effect of recombinative capabilities and technological proximity between firms, on the firms? innovative capabilities. In addition, we investigate the interaction between these two mechanisms: recombination and engagement in strategic alliances. Through a panel data analysis of 71 ICT firms, we find that firms with higher recombinative capabilities are better in terms of patenting capacity. Secondly we confirm the curvilinear relation between technological overlap and innovation capabilities. Third, we find that recombinative capabilities and technological proximity with partners are complementary mechanisms in innovation.