Search Patterns and Absorptive Capacity: A Comparison of Low- and High-Technology Firms from Thirteen European Countries

Arbeitspapier

Searching for externally available knowledge has been characterised as a vital part of the innovation process. Previous research has, however, almost exclusively focused on hightechnology environments, largely ignoring the substantial low- and medium-technology sectors of modern economies. We argue that low- and high-technology firms differ in their search patterns and that these moderate the relationship between innovation inputs and outputs. Based on a sample of 4,500 firms from 13 European countries we find that search patterns in low-technology industries focus on market knowledge while they are built around differences in technology sourcing activities for high-technology industries.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Series: ZEW Discussion Papers ; No. 07-062

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Management of Technological Innovation and R&D ; Industry Studies: Manufacturing: General
• Subject: Absorptive capacity ; search strategies ; low- ; medium- and high-technology sectors ; open innovation ; Informationsverhalten ; Wissen ; Innovationsmanagement ; Hochtechnologiesektor ; Low-Tech ; Vergleich ; EU-Staaten

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Grimpe, Christoph ; Sofka, Wolfgang
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Zentrum für Europäische Wirtschaftsforschung (ZEW)
• (where): Mannheim
• (when): 2007

Further information

• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/24645
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:43 AM CET