Cooperative Innovation Research Articles

Sustainable Strategies for Innovative Cooperation in Human Resources Training between the Business Sector and Universities through Internship Programs from the Pre- to Post-COVID-19 Period

Internships can foster educational alliances between industry (business environment) and academic institutions, which can facilitate both flexibility and accelerated innovation. The purpose of this research is to search for the factors that determine HRT through the implementation of the internship program among the students at the Democritus University of Thrace and reveal the correlation between the factors. Also, this paper investigated the impact of the COVID-19 Eras on human resource training (HRT) factors and, finally, investigated the correlation between the two variables “Recruitment in the specialization” and “COVID Eras”. The sample of the research consisted of 1398 students at the DUTh who implemented internships during the academic years from 2015–2016 to 2021–2022. A questionnaire with 60 variables was created for data collection. A random sampling method was applied to collect the sample. From the results of the survey, ten factors were extracted for human resource training that explained 75.512% of the total variance, and for each one, Cronbach’s Alpha reliability was tested, which was high. In detail, the factors revealed were Learning Outcomes, Efficacy, Emotional Commitment, Satisfaction, Participation, Empowerment, Role Ambiguity, Role Conflict, Supervisor, and Collaboration. From the results of the study, it was evident that HR training is a multidimensional concept and is a necessary condition for the competitiveness of the firms. Training can help to improve the flexibility of the firm, but also to motivate the staff by implementing multidisciplinary training programs. Overall, internship programs are beneficial for students to develop a wide range of skills, as the hands-on experience obtained enhances and supplements the theoretical learning from educational institutions.

The Effect of Multilateral Economic Cooperation on Sustainable Natural Resource Development

The relationship between natural resource development and sustainable development has long been a focus in academia. In the context of a new global economic cooperation system, many scholars argue that such cooperation can lead to a “resource curse” effect in partner countries, hindering their sustainable development. This study analyzed panel data from 64 countries from 2008 to 2020, using the Belt and Road Initiative as a representative of multilateral economic cooperation (MEC) policies. The aim was to examine the actual impact of multilateral economic cooperation on the sustainable development levels of partner countries and to explore the underlying mechanisms influencing these outcomes. First, we measured and identified the sustainable development index (SDI) under natural resource development schemes and the “resource curse” effect in these countries. Then, we employed a double machine learning approach to evaluate the policy effects of MEC on sustainable resource development. We constructed an interactive double machine learning model to examine and validate the specific mechanisms of resource development effects. The results indicate that the level of sustainable resource development in MEC countries is relatively low, and a “resource curse” effect already exists. However, participating in MEC suppresses this “curse” effect. By promoting innovation cooperation, institutional improvement, structural optimization, trade openness, and pollution reduction, MEC effectively enhances the sustainable development levels of partner countries.

Exploring innovation and collaboration in the leather processing industry through the case study of the KIWANGO Leather Cluster

In the era of Industry 4.0, fostering innovation through strong collaboration among universities, industry, and government is crucial. However, the Tanzanian economy has faced challenges due to, among others, weak links between these entities. To address this, Sida initiated the Innovation Systems and Cluster Development Program (ISCP-Tz) in partnership with the University of Dar es Salaam. This was followed by a program at COSTECH focused on fostering innovation for socio-economic development. As part of these programs, 15 clusters, including KIWANGO Leather, were selected for documentation of their experiences. KIWANGO Leather exemplifies successful collaboration between cluster firms, the university, local government, and research institutions. Operationalizing guidelines for collaboration led to cooperative innovations, knowledge exchange, internships, and long-term partnerships established through Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The cluster's experiences highlight a less-linear, inclusive innovation process with positive outcomes. Thus, this paper not only illustrates a less linear, inclusive innovation process, but also its results can motivate actors in emerging innovation ecosystems in the Global South to adopt and scale up suggested approaches for knowledge co-creation benefitting sustainable development. By adopting these approaches and fostering collaborative networks, countries can leverage their resources and expertise to drive innovation, create economic growth, and address societal challenges.

The Impact of Multidimensional Proximity on Enterprise Cooperative Innovation Performance

The Impact of Multidimensional Proximity on Enterprise Cooperative Innovation Performance

Reaping Digital Dividends: The Impact of Supply Chain Finance on Corporate Technological Innovation in China

ABSTRACT As a new type of financial service, supply chain finance closely relates to the production and innovation behaviors of micro-size enterprises. This research thus explores whether and how supply chain finance affects corporate technological innovation. Using a sample of China’s A-share listed companies from 2013 to 2020, the results show that (1) supply chain finance significantly enhances the technological innovation of enterprises; (2) the beneficial effect of supply chain finance on enterprises’ cooperative innovation is more pronounced compared to that on independent innovation; (3) mechanism tests find that supply chain finance promotes enterprise innovation by alleviating financing constraints and adjusting supply chain relationships; and (4) this promotion effect is stronger for private enterprises, small-scale enterprises, in west regions, and for regions with a high level of digital financial development. Our empirical results thus enrich the literature, provide insights into the optimization of supply chain finance development, and can help improve the financial regulatory framework.

Internet development, information availability, and Chinese enterprises’ cooperative green technology innovation

Cooperative green technology innovation is potentially the answer to the lack of motivation for independent green innovation, which can effectively alleviate many difficulties faced by enterprises engaging in independent green innovation. Internet development provides new opportunities to stimulate innovative cooperation of enterprises. However, little literature has studied the impact of Internet development on enterprises' cooperative green technology innovation. Based on the data of Chinese A-share 3284 listed companies from 2010 to 2019, this paper uses a panel two-way fixed effects model to assess the effect of Internet development on enterprises' cooperative green innovation. The findings are: (1) Internet development significantly drives firms' collaborative green innovation behavior. The result remains robust even after performing a series of robust tests. (2) The Internet empowers green innovation cooperation among firms by improving information availability, including market information availability and technical information availability. (3) The heterogeneous results show enterprises use the Internet to accomplish high-quality collaborative green innovation. Internet development is more helpful in encouraging the cooperative green innovation of enterprises located in central cities and state-owned enterprises. This study provides novel and targeted policy implications to empower enterprises’ green innovation cooperation and drive sustainable economic development through Internet development.

Factors influencing value co-creation in cultural and creative enterprises: An empirical study

The empirical validation of the relationship among the capabilities of cultural and creative enterprises (CCE), customer co-creation value, and enterprise value remains insufficient. Therefore, clarifying the essential capabilities for increasing enterprise and customer value is essential. This study explores the factors that influence value co-creation in cultural and creative enterprises and examines how this influences enterprise and customer value. To measure this, a structured questionnaire was distributed to cultural and creative practitioners in Shanghai, China, and AMOS 24.0 was used for structural equation modelling of the obtained survey data. The results confirm the positive impacts of cooperative innovation capability, customer-linking, and service capability on creating enterprise and customer value. Additionally, the results indicate an interactive relationship between enterprise value creation and customer co-creation value in this context. This study provides management insights for product innovation and to enhance customer service and competitive advantage.

Entrepreneurship and innovation in worker cooperatives and conventional firms: the role of external cooperation

AbstractThrough the comparison of conventional firms (CFs) with worker cooperatives (WCs), which are a type of collective enterprise with significant experience in cooperation, this research aims to analyse the influence of external cooperation on the two most prominent factors for the success of enterprises: entrepreneurship and innovation. To this end, a research model is proposed based on contributions from the stakeholders’ perspective of the resource-based view of the firm and tested with data from a survey conducted on WCs and CFs located in two Spanish regions with a long tradition in the cooperative movement. The results highlight that the influence of external cooperation on innovation performance is more relevant for WCs and demonstrate that these collective firms are not disadvantaged in innovation compared to CFs. Furthermore, the results suggest that WCs have a more remarkable ability to compete and cooperate simultaneously, that is, to coopete, due to their participative nature.

IN SEARCH OF INNOVATION IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR: INTERINSTITUTIONAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT

Objective: To analyze the relationship between control bodies and management bodies and verify possible tension between them, and what are the causes and consequences for innovation in the public sector. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework provides relevant information about the supervision of the Audit Courts in Brazil and its influence on decision-making, risk aversion and the impact of this aversion on innovations in the Brazilian Public Sector. Method: The analysis of this research was based on the methodology of Grounded Theory and on carrying out interviews with directors of two municipalities located in the State of Rio de Janeiro and supervisory employees of two Audit Courts and two Internal Affairs Offices located in the State of Rio de Janeiro. Rio de Janeiro. Results and Discussion: The existence of tension between control bodies and management bodies contributes to an environment of insecurity and fear in decision-making in public management. The possible causes of this tension are due to factors originating from both sides and from the public sector inspection relationship itself. Research Implications: By specifically examining the causes that lead to this tension, this research fills a crucial gap in the literature, offering insights into the challenges and improvements to having a fertile environment for innovation in the public sector Originality/Value: By understanding the causes that lead to an aversion to risk in relation to innovation, agencies can create mechanisms that create an environment of dialogue and cooperation for innovation in the public sector.

Do global innovation networks influence the status of global value chains? Based on a patent cooperation network perspective

Under the impact of economic globalization, the internationalization of production and trade has given rise to global value chains (GVCs) and global innovation networks (GINs); however, few studies have explored the link between these two networks. This paper constructs a global innovation cooperation network based on patent cooperation data and then analyzes the impact of different network characteristics on improving global value chain status. Empirical research shows that the characteristics of GINs significantly affect GVC status; the higher the eigenvector centrality and network connectivity, the higher the country’s GVC status. Moreover, a higher degree of constraint is associated with a lower GVC status for the country concerned. The heterogeneity analysis further reveals apparent differences in the impact of GINs on different countries, manifesting as a catalytic effect in developed countries and as a disincentive in emerging economies; the effect is less apparent in developing countries. This paper provides theoretical support for the development of technological innovation activities and provides a reference for government departments to formulate policies on cross-border technological innovation cooperation.

Green innovation ecosystem evolution: Diffusion of positive green innovation game strategies on complex networks

The essence of the evolution of the green innovation ecosystem is the process by which the positive strategy of green innovation spreads in a complex network. In this study, the "Object-Technology-Environment-Management-Culture (OETMC)" structure paradigm of innovation ecosystems is presented, and a causal analysis framework of green innovation ecosystem evolution based on green innovation behavior strategy, supported by green innovation efficiency and focused on green innovation ecosystems is developed. Based on this framework, the structure of the green innovation ecosystem and the diffusion process of positive green innovation in the network are discussed. The results reveal the following. (1) The complexity of the green innovation ecological network has visibly improved, but numerous blank connections remain. These are the key constraints that hinder structural evolution. (2) The appearance of a large number of long-range connections weakens the constraint of geographical distance but also hinders edge nodes from joining the network. (3) The existence of preference attachment and power law distribution of the green innovation ecological network leads to the incomplete convergence of positive green innovation strategy at any initial strategy ratio. (4) Default cost and pollution tax rate ensure the enthusiasm of green innovation actors to seek innovation cooperation by increasing opportunity costs, thus accelerating the formation and reconstruction of the green innovation ecological network. These conclusions provide a decision-making reference for governments to encourage green innovation subjects to formulate targeted policies.

Global Innovative Vision of WinWin Ukraine in the Education Sphere: Features of the Approval and Perspectives of Implementation

The article updates the issues of educational innovations, as well as the need for a global innovative vision in education to achieve the successful development of Ukraine. Considering the constant changes in the modern world and the need to adapt to them, Ukraine has prepared its global innovative vision in the field of education. The current state of innovations in education has been analyzed, weak points and problems that need to be solved have been identified; key areas of innovation are defined; and the use of modern innovative technologies in education is outlined. Considerable attention in the article is given to the Global Innovation Vision - a large-scale analytical document (almost 100 pages with details for each sector). Note that this document is an important factor in the transformation of Ukraine during the war and for post-war recovery. The key provisions of the Global Innovation Vision, the principles of state policy in the field of innovative activity are analyzed, since the implementation of innovations in higher, secondary, and primary education requires the development of specific strategies and the attraction of public and private investments in the education sector. Focused attention on supporting scientific research and innovation in the field of education and attracting international experience and partnership; to ensure the implementation of the Global Innovation Vision, the development of regulatory and legal acts on innovation activities has begun. Practical steps for the implementation of innovative activities are outlined. Three new initiatives launched by the European Commission aimed at strengthening scientific and innovative cooperation between the EU and Ukraine are considered.

Research on Enhancement of Gov't Functions in Regional Tech Achievements Transformation

The transformation of regional scientific and technological achievements is an important process of converting scientific research achievements into real productive forces, and the uneven distribution of regional resources is an inevitable problem in cross-regional innovation cooperation. To make up for the gap in scientific and technological resources, the cross-regional flow of technology has become an inevitable trend. While giving full play to the role of the market in resource allocation, it is even more necessary to give full play to the leading role of the government. With the introduction of a series of relevant laws and policies in China, the function of the government in the cross-regional transformation of scientific and technological achievements has been increasingly enhanced, but in this process, there are still deficiencies in the government's role positioning, relevant policies for interest balance, and the inter-governmental cooperation mechanism among regions. Based on this, it is necessary to optimize the function of the government in the transformation of regional scientific and technological achievements, effectively play the leading role of the government, construct an efficient and collaborative scientific and technological transformation mechanism, and cultivate the cooperation awareness of various participating subjects, so as to provide useful thinking for improving the function of the government in regional scientific and technological transformation.

Digital Economy, Regional Cooperative Innovation and Green Innovation Efficiency: Game Model and Empirical Evidence Based on Regions in China

Using the differential game model, this study examines the impact of the digital economy and regional cooperative innovation on green innovation efficiency. Additionally, based on the two-stage Super-NSBM model, this study evaluates the effects of the digital economy on green innovation efficiency, its spatial spillover effects, and the moderating role of regional cooperative innovation. The findings of the study indicate that (1) the digital economy significantly enhances green innovation efficiency but has negative spatial spillover effects on surrounding regions. (2) Regional cooperative innovation positively moderates the promotional effect of the digital economy on green innovation efficiency. Moreover, the moderating effect exhibits a single-threshold effect. (3) The influence of the digital economy on green innovation efficiency is more significant in regions with advanced industrialization, robust transportation infrastructure, and high R&D intensity. The coordinated development of digital industrialization and governance is crucial for effectively promoting the development of green innovation.

Neither Mergers nor Cartels: Innovation Networks and Competition Law

Abstract Organization theorists and innovation economists have been arguing for the past few decades that the locus of research and development activities has gradually moved away from vertically integrated firms to inter-firm alliances. In industries as diverse as construction and biotechnology, cooperation for innovation has given rise to collaborative forms of industrial organization varying from bilateral alliances to networks. Nonetheless, the EU competition law framework opens up limited space for inter-firm collaborations, cabined by the efficiency test of Article 101(3) TFEU and the requirements of the horizontal block exemption regulations. Building on this misfit, this article makes two contributions. First, a theoretical one, arguing that the law’s cautious approach to inter-firm collaboration is rooted in a binary vision of industrial organization which recognizes only firms and markets as modes of organizing production. Second, an explanatory one, showing how the 2023 Research & Development Block Exemption Regulation falls short of facilitating inter-firm collaborations for innovation and proposing fine-tuning suggestions.

Mobility of technicians and green innovation efficiency improvement: empirical analysis and policy implications in Chinese cities

ABSTRACT This study aims to explore the relationship between technicians’ mobility and green innovation efficiency in Chinese cities and proposes policy recommendations based on these findings. This study analyses data from 275 Chinese cities from 2011 to 2020 using the Spatial Durbin Model to examine the impact of technical personnel mobility on green innovation efficiency in local and adjacent areas and its transmission mechanism. The results indicate that technical personnel mobility significantly enhances green innovation efficiency in both local and adjacent areas, with a more pronounced effect in innovative cities and areas preferred by technical personnel. Additionally, the synergistic effect of government green innovation attention and the transmission effect of industrial structure upgrades further strengthen this positive impact. Based on these findings, it is recommended that enterprises, universities, and government agencies collaboratively enhance the mobility of technical personnel and cross-sector innovation. It is also advised to construct regional mechanisms for green innovation cooperation, and further boost green innovation efficiency by optimizing industrial configurations and intensifying awareness of green innovation. This study provides valuable references for attracting regional talent and innovation-driven high-quality development.

How to promote cooperative innovation in environmentally friendly technology: a case of agricultural biotechnology in China

This study explored the factors influencing cooperative innovation in environmentally friendly agricultural biotechnology in China. First, we constructed an evolutionary game model comprising the factors of net income of cooperative innovation, net income of independent innovation, market constraints, and government subsidies. Using MATLAB simulation, we assigned different values to the aforementioned variables to explore the evolutionary trend of innovators’ willingness to cooperate. Results showed that when the values of net income of cooperative innovation, net income of independent innovation, market constraints, and government subsidies exceeded the threshold, innovators’ willingness to cooperate was significantly enhanced. Furthermore, the proportion of innovators who cooperated with others gradually increased to 100%; otherwise, it gradually decreased to 0%. Comparing the simulation curve with the real evolution curve of cooperative innovation in agricultural biotechnology in China, we found that the gradual decline in the willingness to cooperate could be due to insufficient subsidies for cooperative innovation, low income from cooperative innovation, weak profitability of innovators, and weak market constraints.

The impact of the interaction of independent and cooperative innovation on firm digitization: the moderating role of managerial discretion

PurposeThis study aims to deliver a new perspective on how the interaction of independent and cooperative innovation affects firm digitization. Based on resource constraint theory, this study argues that the aforementioned interaction negatively affects firm digitization. The moderating role of managerial discretion is also discussed in light of the principles of the awareness-motivation-capability (AMC) framework.Design/methodology/approachThe proposed hypotheses are empirically tested using a negative binomial modeling approach. The data used are from A-share listed companies in China’s Shanghai and Shenzhen stock markets from 2006 to 2020.FindingsThis study suggests that the interaction of independent innovation and cooperative innovation negatively impacts digitization. In addition, this study argues that environmental discretion and organizational discretion weaken the negative impact of the mentioned interaction on digitization. However, additional discretion in the Chinese context has no effect on above relationships.Originality/valueThis study explores the impact of the interaction of independent and cooperative innovation on digitization and incorporates managerial discretion into this framework based on the AMC framework.

Impact of social innovation on value in cooperatives: a systematic literature review and a modeling attempt

Social innovation is often presented as a fashion or a trend in the world of business and management. However, it is important to note that it is much more than just a passing mode. It is usually classified as a way to boost the competitiveness and profitability of the social organizations, or a way to generate their value.For cooperatives, social innovation concerns more social and environmental issues. A perception that remains very limited given the managerial changes and organizational transitions of these cooperatives. Hence the need to develop a wider spectrum of reflection in terms of the value created by social innovation.Furthermore, the main objective of this communication is to model the conciliation between social innovation and value in cooperatives. In other words, the authors tried to pinpoint the concept of value in social organizations and study the impacts of social innovation on this value.To do so, the authors conducted a text mining analysis referring to 510 articles from Scopus engine by using IRaMuteQ 0.7 alpha 2 software.The results of this communication reveal a typology three categories of social value (economic, social, and organizational) and present a model describing the contribution of social innovation to value in cooperatives.This communication remains a reflection on modeling the complexity of the existing relationships between social innovation and value in cooperatives.

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Mechanisms of Inter-city Cooperative Innovation Network in Sichuan and Chongqing

Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Mechanisms of Inter-city Cooperative Innovation Network in Sichuan and Chongqing