Collaborative Innovation by Intermediaries: Knowledge and Network Roles

Abstract

The article examines the knowledge and network role of innovation intermediaries in collaborative projects using empirical evidence from Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) based in Europe. Adopting a sequential mix method research design, the paper finds that two different roles performed by innovation intermediaries in collaborative projects, namely knowledge and network roles, have differential impact on the generation of different types of innovation. The knowledge role of innovation intermediaries is conducive to the generation of exploratory innovation, whereas their network role contributes only to the development of exploitative innovation. Interestingly, both internal and relational capabilities are found to have a mediating role through which the network and knowledge roles of innovation intermediaries enhance exploitative and exploratory innovation.