How to foster innovation in SMEs: evidence of the effectiveness of a project-based technology transfer approach

Frederic Hilkenmeier,Julian Decius,Christian Fechtelpeter

doi:10.1007/s10961-021-09913-x

Abstract

AbstractOne of the main challenges in technology transfer is to actively involve small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)—which are most in need of and benefit the most from collaborative Research and Development (R&D) programs. This study presents a large-scale collaboration program which focuses on project-based technology transfer in SMEs with little to no prior experience in collaborative research projects. The core of this collaboration program is the temporary secondment of scientists from a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) into an SME to jointly work on a practical project objective—which is directly tailored to the demands of the SME. To evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in overcoming barriers related to finding the right collaboration partner, limited resources, and limited absorptive capabilities, we adopt the R&D Lifecycle Model as a theoretical framework. Our findings, using self-reported and objective data from 106 different projects in a structural equation model, highlight that most SMEs in the considered cluster environment not only successfully mastered a challenging topic in the context of industry 4.0 that immediately benefits the organization, but also engaged in new R&D projects to strengthen their scientific and technical human capital in the long term. Moreover, consistent with previous literature, we found that trust is the main driver within the R&D Lifecycle Model both in building capabilities and economic growth. Based on these insights, we consider a long and close secondment of scientists to SMEs as key for collaboration projects and discuss implications for research and future technology transfer approaches.

Highlights

In times of ongoing digital transformation, industrial enterprises have to deal with everaccelerating change, shortening technology life cycles, and highly dynamic markets (e.g., Extended author information available on the last page of the articleGreen, 2007; Günsel, 2015; Rauter et al, 2018, van Lancker et al, 2016)
Besides achieving the specific sub-goals of each project, the overarching goal of all it’s OWL transfer projects was to strengthen the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)’ scientific and technical human capital and thereby increasing their innovative and absorptive capabilities
In order to identify the main drivers of successful technology transfer projects between SMEs and Research and Technology Organization (RTO) within the it’s OWL transfer approach, we consider the Research and Development (R&D) Lifecycle Model as a theoretical framework for the assumed relationships, and apply structural equation modeling (SEM) using the partial least squares (PLS) approach

Summary

Introduction

In times of ongoing digital transformation, industrial enterprises have to deal with everaccelerating change, shortening technology life cycles, and highly dynamic markets (e.g., Extended author information available on the last page of the articleGreen, 2007; Günsel, 2015; Rauter et al, 2018, van Lancker et al, 2016). Costs for research and development are rising, while complexity of products and services increases (Rauter et al, 2018; van Lancker et al, 2016) In this environment, a companies’ competitive advantage no longer lies in its access to financial or physical capital, but in its knowledge-based resources and human capacity (Audretsch et al, 2014). The underlying basic research that enables such technological progress is often conducted in the public sector, i.e., by universities and government research laboratories (Feller et al, 2002; Sherwood & Covin, 2008; Wirsich et al, 2016) The application of this basic research in products, services, or business processes can result in groundbreaking innovation on the companies’ side (Baba et al, 2009; Spanos et al, 2015). Firms involved in such partnerships seem to be in a better position to adopt new technology and innovate faster, while reducing the risks of misguided commercial decisions and improving their overall competitiveness (Audretsch et al, 2014; Grimpe & Hussinger, 2013)

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Conclusion