International Journal of Innovation Science

Pereira, Rafael Morais; MacLennan, Maria Laura Ferranty; Tiago, Eliane Fernandes

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-01-2020-0008

The presentation of the specificities inherent in the adoption of the cooperation practices for the eco-innovation development is sometimes fragmented and superficial in the literature. So, the purpose of this paper is to analyze how the literature has studied the association between interorganizational cooperation and the development of eco-innovation, for the developing a framework with the different faces of this connection.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the proposed objective, the authors conducted a literature review through the Web of Science database. The selected manuscripts were analyzed from the following categories: Why to cooperate?, What is cooperation?, How to cooperate?, Who to cooperate with?, How much is it worth to cooperate?, Where does cooperation take place?, When to cooperate?, and So what?.FindingsGiven the proposed objective, as a general aspect highlighted, the analyzed articles revealed that interorganizational cooperation has been presented as relevant for the development of eco-innovations. Thus, cooperation on their different faces allows companies to overcome resource constraints, even partially, while facilitating the development of different types of ecological innovations as costs and risks are reduced.Originality/valueThe theoretical contribution is expected to be the proposition of a framework capable of systematizing several specificities, including the antecedents and motivations, definitions and cooperation types, cooperation partners, important conditions that highlight how much cooperation is worth, where and when cooperation occurs and, finally, the main insights of this association, to guide future studies.

Wang, Kai; Wang, Ying; Ma, Yun; Xu, Sutian

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-07-2020-0105

Big science has become a new normative standard in transforming science policy with the interdisciplinary research (IDR) pattern serving as an organizational strategy in scientific inquiries. This paper aims to show how policy-making is organized in the real situation of the R&D sectors for this trend.Design/methodology/approachCultural theory and new institutionalism are tinkered for a close examination of the ways in which IDR has been enacted and implemented in BGI Group, an exemplar of big science and leading biotechnology research facility in China, by interrogating institutional cultures in the context of big science projects, whilst investigating how IDR is evolved against the specific social process of interaction.FindingsThe findings include that the IDR has profoundly influenced how scientific knowledge is produced, the social interactions between stakeholders and the innovation of research policy within the network of China’s biotechnology industry.Originality/valueAdvances in biotechnology and related fields are redrafting China’s hi-tech industry development and governance landscape. This is the first empirical study of innovation in R&D management for big science project as presented by the IDR pattern in the BGI. It makes an important contribution to the understanding of both the nature of China’s biotechnology industry governance practices and the culture of scientific innovation within which the IDR mediates social interactions and thereby the policy-making process.

Carvache-Franco, Orly; Gutiérrez-Candela, Glenda; Guim-Bustos, Paola; Carvache-Franco, Mauricio; Carvache-Franco, Wilmer

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-04-2020-0046

This paper aims to examine the relationship between research and development (R&D) intensity and innovative performance and R&D intensity as a moderating variable in the relationship between sources of information and innovative performance.Design/methodology/approachThis is a quantitative, nonexperimental, cross-sectional study of the data collected from national surveys of innovation activities from Ecuador, Peru and Chile where the investigation was carried out. A bivariate probit regression was applied.FindingsThe results of the investigation pinpoint that R&D intensity is positively related to the innovation of products and processes in Ecuador and Peru. However, no relationship was found in Chile. As a moderating variable of the information sources (customers, suppliers and competitors), and the innovation of products and processes, it shows different results in the three countries examined.Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the literature with evidence in countries with low rates of investment in R&D in the countries examined, this relationship does not always exist; this relationship is considered to be dependent on the complexity of the knowledge and internal capabilities of the company required to achieve innovation, and this complexity could vary according to the type of manufacturing and technology level of the companies. Thus, in manufacturing companies of less complexity to achieve the necessary knowledge for innovation, low rates of investment in R&D are sufficient for the relationship to exist.Practical implicationsBy increasing their R&D intensity, companies acquire technology and develop internal skills and capabilities that boost their innovative potential. Nevertheless, it is not enough to increase R&D intensity to take advantage of external sources of information, it is also necessary to boost the absorptive capacity to assimilate and take advantage of external knowledge.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the scarce evidence that exists, on the literature in developing countries, on the effect of R&D intensity on innovative performance and provides evidence of R&D intensity as a moderating variable of the relationship between sources of information and innovative performance.

Granig, Peter; Hilgarter, Kathrin

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-06-2020-0086

Organisations need to tackle emerging trends that affect business models (BM) by modifying, changing or re‐designing their models. Attending this complex environment by understanding trends and the strategies actors use to handle these competing demands is strategically important for innovation management and sustaining organisations.. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how organisations assess and deal with these complex and relevant challenges.Design/methodology/approachA total of 18 higher management experts between the ages of 27 and 59 years participated in this four-month qualitative interview-based study. The interviews were analysed by using systematic, qualitative content analysis.FindingsResults showed that all elements of a BM are influenced by emerged trends, and how organisations deal with them can decide whether the impact poses as risk or offers opportunities. Trends trigger two different strategies – reactive and proactive resilience strategies – which are closely related to the change sensitivity of the attributional resilience model, thereby presenting a crucial factor for enhancing resilience. Nevertheless, the proactive resilience strategy seems to be more promising for enhancing organisational resilience regarding the influence of trends on their BM. Moreover, this study found that the usage of foresight methods might be suitable as an important tool for proactive resilience strategy to modification, change or re-design of BM and consequently anticipate trends.Originality/valueOverall, this study is one of the first that explains how BMs are influenced by trends and how organisations handle them by using organisational resilience strategies.

Indrawati, Henny; Caska, ; Suarman,

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-04-2020-0049

This study aims to analyze the inhibiting factors of small and medium enterprises (SMEs’) technology innovation, supporting institutions for SMEs technology innovation development, SMEs’ technology innovation development model and strategies for developing SMEs in technology innovation.Design/methodology/approachThis is a mixed-method research project conducted through a survey of SMEs in Riau Province, Sumatera Indonesia (primarily in the districts of Siak, Kampar and Pelalawan) from April to July 2019. SMEs that have been operating for at least five years were chosen purposively as samples. Based on the requirement, there are 277 entities used in this study. A focus group discussion (FGD) was also conducted to formulate SME models and development strategies in technological innovation. In addition, in-depth interviews and observations were also carried out on technological innovations undertaken by respondents.FindingsIt was found that there are five inhibiting factors of SMEs’ technology innovation: government support, quality of human resources, funding of technological innovation, economic conditions and business partners. The biggest inhibiting factor remains to be the funding of technological innovation. Therefore SMEs provide independent technological innovation costs to develop technological innovations for business sustainability. Supporting institutions for developing SME technology innovation consist of government institutions, private institutions, financial institutions (banks) and nonbank financial institutions. To survive and excel amid competition, SMEs need to pay attention to technological innovation. The business strategy that needs to be done is to improve services to consumers and improve their attitude toward innovation in the implementation and development of SMEs’ businesses.Research limitations/implicationsThis research is limited to research on the inhibiting factors for SME technology innovation from the aspect of the production sector. This research has not studied various business fields in the trade, service and digital SME sectors. Future studies can reveal factors inhibiting SME technological innovation, except production aspects and various SME business fields. In addition, this study has not analyzed the cost of technological innovation provided by SMEs. Therefore, future studies could also reveal the large costs of technological innovation provided by SMEs.Originality/valueThis research investigates barriers hindering the SMEs’ technological innovations in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia as a maritime country. It also formulates strategies to reduce the barriers to SME’s technological innovation and contributes to the development of knowledge of technological innovations in SMEs. Moreover, this paper involves investigating government support from a nonfinancial aspect. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this aspect has not been much discussed by studies on innovation at SMEs till now.

Dambiski Gomes de Carvalho, Gustavo; Martins de Resende, Luis Mauricio; Gomes de Carvalho, Hélio; Pontes, Joseane; Oliveira Correa, Rúbia

2020 International Journal of Innovation Science

doi: 10.1108/ijis-03-2020-0022

This paper aims to analyze the characteristics of Brazilian micro and small businesses (MSBs) and the main lessons derived from the largest small business innovation support program in the country, the Local Innovation Agents – Agentes Locais de Inovação (ALI) Program.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 34 papers were selected from the Web of Science and Scopus databases (28), as well as from the Revista de Administração e Inovação – RAI (6), a seminal Brazilian innovation journal. The papers were analyzed in terms of the regional context, methodological approach and main findings. Regional complementary analyzes of some program figures were also performed by Spearman correlation and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests.FindingsThe review revealed a low innovation level among Brazilian MSBs and that the platform (incremental product) and brand (marketing) innovation dimensions were the most developed across different regions and industries. Reviewed papers also showed that all MSBs were able to improve innovation over the program independent of previous management and innovation levels, besides positive relationships between management and innovation. The complementary analysis provided a regional panorama of the program figures and corroborated MSBs innovation improvement.Research limitations/implicationsThis review analyzed relevant papers and figures related to the program, summarized main lessons and provided future research venues.Practical implicationsDifferent innovation strategies reviewed may be implemented by MSBs owners. Policymakers may also benefit from the program experience.Originality/valueDespite the high number of publications and the relevance of the largest Brazilian innovation support program, there were still no literature reviews comprehending the diverse lessons derived from the ALI Program, as well as a regional panorama of the program figures.