Role Of Technological Capabilities Research Articles

How do countries shift their export specialization? The role of technological capabilities and industrial policy in Ireland, Spain and Sweden (1995–2018)

Abstract This article contributes to the Comparative Political Economy discourse on countries’ export specialization transitions. While current growth model literature often highlights producer coalitions’ influence, we present a complementary perspective emphasizing industrial policies. These policies, we argue, are not solely shaped by politics but are also deeply influenced by sectoral technological capabilities. By strategically engaging in both demand and supply-side sectoral innovation processes, industrial policies deepen existing technological capabilities with spillover effects into new sectors or foster new sector-specific capabilities. Our empirical analysis comprises two main steps. First, we create export profiles for eight European nations, using OECD TiVA data from 1995 to 2018. These profiles are categorized based on their technological and innovation content. Second, we identify significant shifts in export structures within Ireland, Sweden and Spain. Through thorough case studies, we illustrate the role of industrial policies in cultivating sector-specific technological capabilities.

The role of technological capabilities and gap in the cross-country patenting: an empirical investigation

The role of technological capabilities and gap in the cross-country patenting: an empirical investigation

Sustainable energy strategies for micro, small, and medium enterprises in India: a review

Enhancing energy efficiency and conservation will play a significant aspect in the accomplishment of energy requirements in developing economies. To be competitive and sustainable, micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have to utilise energy input sources optimally and effectively to enhance overall productivity. Sustainable energy strategies (SES) focus on the economical use of energy sources and examine the parameters that influence energy utilisation in enterprises. This review aims to fill energy gaps and update the literature review in industries through SES, highlight the current research concerning the future scope of sustainability in MSMEs. In this review paper, we explored the sustainable energy strategies (SES), it included the initiation of various practices and policies that decline energy demand through energy efficiency measures, the role of technological capabilities, examine the factors influencing and barriers to energy efficiency that are believed to enhance productivity and sustainability in MSMEs. The motivation for the review paper focused on considering the better strategies that are needed to improved forecasting techniques and assist in the development of sustainability in MSMEs.

Family firms’ selective learning-by-exporting: product vs process innovation and the role of technological capabilities

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine how family governance and technological capabilities influence the conversion of new knowledge obtained from exports into various innovation outputs, a phenomenon called “learning-by-exporting (LBE).”Design/methodology/approachTo properly examine the causal links proposed in the study, first, the control for endogeneity. Second, a propensity-score matching longitudinal analysis is conducted, a particularly robust empirical method that enhances reliability in non-experimental data, over an average sample of 663 manufacturing companies for the period 2007 to 2014.FindingsFamily firms’ innovation strategies and abilities render them more likely to convert the new knowledge from exporting into product innovation and more efficient in this endeavor than non-family firms. This diverts family firms’ typically limited resources from process innovation, and they have a smaller LBE effect than non-family firms in terms of process innovation.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the internationalization literature by producing a more nuanced view of the learning-by-exporting effect which considers the type of innovation outcomes developed following export activity. It also helps to identify some of the firm-specific factors that shape the relationship between exports and innovation, by empirically examining for the first time the role of family governance in innovation capabilities and decisions.

Technological capability, eco-innovation performance, and cooperative R&D strategy in new energy vehicle industry: Evidence from listed companies in China

To promote low-carbon economy and sustainable energy consumption, new energy vehicles (NEVs), a typical eco-innovation, are drawing intensive attention from manufacturers, administrators and academics. Despite extensive literature investigates factors that affect research and development (R&D) of NEVs, yet little is known about the role of technological capability as well as the interaction between internal technological capability and external resources (e.g., ownership, government subsidy and external cooperation). This might lead to the overlook of technological capabilities and the misallocation of external resources. In present study, we investigate how firm-level technological capability (measured by R&D expenditure) affects its eco-innovation performance (measured by eco-innovation patents), as well as the moderating impacts of ownership and governmental support (i.e., subsidy). Further, we explore the correlation between firm’s technological capability and its R&D strategy (i.e., internal R&D or cooperative R&D). Our investigation is based on a unique set of panel data from 127 listed companies in the Chinese automotive industry, spanning from 2009 to 2018. The empirical findings demonstrate that firm-level technological capability is positively related to eco-innovation performance, and state ownership intensifies this positive relationship. Surprisingly, increasing government subsidy tends to weaken this correlation. The results also show that firms with higher technological capabilities prefer cooperative R&D, while those with lower technological capabilities tend to choose internal R&D. These findings promote the understanding on the cost-effectiveness of R&D investment in the NEV industry, and also shed light on the interactions of internal and external resources. The study offers managerial implications to promote the prosperity of the NEV industry.

Offshore manufacturing and firm innovation: the moderating role of technological capabilities

Scholars have recently suggested that offshoring may favour firm innovation, as it allows firms to gain access to a broad and varied array of information and knowledge sources. However, we still know little about whether some firms are better suited than others to benefit from the learning opportunities that offshoring presents. Therefore, in this paper, we analyse whether and how firm heterogeneity - in the form of technological capabilities - moderates the impact of offshoring (specifically, intermediate manufacturing offshoring) on firm-level innovation. Utilising data for 1359 Spanish manufacturing firms from 2006 to 2011, we find that, although both technologically leading and lagging firms apply for more patents and utility models subsequent to offshoring, the positive impact of offshoring on firms' innovative output is greater for the former than for the latter. Our results, thus, suggest that firm-specific capabilities play an important role in order to take advantage of the innovation benefits that offshoring may provide.

The role of technological capability in the internationalization of the company and new product success: a systematic literature review

The constant changes in the existing corporate environment require organizations to submit high speed to adapt to hypercompetitive scenarios. Technological capability can promote company internationalization as it enables the formation of strategic partnerships, investment in R&D, resource sharing, technology transfer, and economies of scale. The aim of this article is to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the role of technological capability in company internationalization and new product success (NPS). It was therefore necessary to analyze 87 articles obtained from four databases. The survey results suggest that technological capability can be used as a moderating variable; technological capability is considered an important element of economic growth; it facilitates company internationalization; can provide NPS; technology transfer assists the formation of technological capability through the tacit knowledge, skills, and competencies of staff; as a rule, export companies have greater technological capabilities. Finally, a theoretical framework, study limitations, and suggestions for future research are proposed.

European enlargement policy, technological capabilities and sectoral export dynamics

This paper examines how the last wave of the European Union (EU) enlargement process has influenced the export competitiveness of EU countries. A technology-augmented gravity model is applied to distinguished manufacturing sectors to test the effect of the economic integration as well as the role of technological capabilities on export dynamics in old and new EU countries. The main findings reveal that the enlargement process has produced an overall larger positive impact on export flows for new members and that this positive effect appears not to be confined to low-tech sectors. This result suggests that the EU enlargement has favoured a process of trade embodied and disembodied technology transfer between member states. Hence, the evidence provided in this analysis contrasts with the view that the enlargement process led to increasing specialization of new member states in sectors characterized by lower technological content. In addition, the study shows that the level of technological capabilities is a crucial driving factor for export dynamics, both for old and new EU countries, and that the interrelations between the European enlargement process and the level of technological capabilities are relevant.

Innovation and internationalization as growth strategies: The role of technological capabilities and appropriability

Firms grow either by launching new products (innovation) or by attracting new customers (internationalization) or by using a mixed strategy. An interesting question is whether innovation and internationalization activities are complementary or substitutive. The paper discusses the connections between technological capabilities, their appropriability, innovation activities, and internationalization, and derives hypotheses from the knowledge-based view of the firm. The hypotheses are empirically analyzed using survey data from 300 Finnish firms clustered as follows: (i) domestic replicators, (ii) domestic innovators, (iii) international replicators, and (iv) international innovators. The performance of the clusters is empirically analyzed, the success criteria being actual growth rate and profitability. We conclude that a profitable firm needs to have unused technological capabilities in order to exploit economies of scope through innovation. A strong appropriability regime strengthens growth. Internationalization and innovation combined is the most advisable option when domestic markets are limited.

The technology-science relationship: Some curriculum implications

Technology encompasses the goods and services which people make and provide to meet human needs, and the processes and systems used for their development and delivery. Although technology and science are related, a distinction can be made between their purposes and outcomes. This paper considers four possible approaches to teaching students about the relationship between technology and science. Atechnology-as-illustration approach treats technology as if it were applied science; artefacts are presented to illustrate scientific principles. Acognitive-motivational approach also treats technology as applied science, but presents technology early in the instructional sequence in order to promote student interest and understanding. In anartefact approach, learners study artefacts as systems in order to understand the scientific principles which explain their workings. Finally, atechnology-as-process approach emphasises the role of technological capability; in this approach, scientific concepts do not have privileged status as a basis for selecting curriculum content.