Critical Role of Intermediaries on Technology Transfer: Case Study of BIOTROP and Center for Mariculture Development of Lampung

. Relationship among technology generator and technology user is one of factors determining successful technology transfer, but the existence of intermediaries is proven to enhance the absorptive capacity of technology user, especially in rural areas. Government can enact as intermediary by supporting the relationship generator-user, which is commonly found in agriculture and fishery sectors. The aim of this study is to demonstrate how government can support technology transfer from academic institution to rural industry. Using case study method, this study focused on the critical role of Center for Mariculture Development of Lampung (CMDL) which acts as an intermediary of technology transfer process from Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization- Southeast Asian Regional Center for Tropical Biology (SEAMEO-BIOTROP) to seaweed farmers. This study shows that intermediary agent plays an important role in articulating demand from technology user to technology generator, creating network between adopter-generator, and providing resources (fund, technician, industrial-scale laboratory) for technology commercialization. Intermediary with strong commitment to deliver technology to society is highly needed in successful technology transfer

Conceptual Model of Big Data Technologies Adoption in Smart Cities of the European Union

Big data technologies enable cities to develop towards a smart city. However, the adoption of big data technologies is challenging, which is why it is essential to identify factors that influence the adoption of big data technologies in cities. The main goal of the paper is to propose a conceptual model of big data technologies adoption in smart cities of the European Union. In order to derive the conceptual model following is done: i) overview of the previous Technology-OrganisationEnvironment framework - based research on the adoption of selected information and communications technologies crucial for the development of smart cities, and ii) selection of factors based on the critical examination of the previous research. Selected factors, Absorptive Capacity, Technology Readiness, Compatibility, City Managements Support, the Existence of Smart City Strategy and Stakeholders Support, were incorporated into the conceptual model of big data technologies adoption in smart cities of the European Union. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.</p

Clusters Of Innovative Firms: Absorptive Capacity In Larger Networks?

Firms are often compared in terms of their resources or capabilities (resource based view of the firm (Barney, 1991, 1997) dynamic capabilities (Eisenhardt & Martin, 2000) and their performance on knowledge transfer (Argote & Ingram, 2000), absorptive capacity and relative absorptive capacity. Innovative firms are often located with other firms in clusters, with relationships and networks that have developed over time or in response to particular drivers and conditions. This paper investigates assumptions related to innovative firms and their environments and brings together research relevant to individual firms, notions of absorptive capacity and findings about clusters of firms. Firm relationships in cluster configurations are discussed and a research agenda proposed

Realizing Potential: The Impact of Business Incubation upon the Absorptive Capacity of New Technology Based Firms

This article explores the potential of university technology business incubators to enhance the absorptive capacity of new technology-based firms. The research pursues three critical themes: it employs the absorptive capacity construct to analyse and evaluate the potential of incubation to strengthen the business model of new technology firms. It then explores the interaction between founders and incubator directors, mentors and business advisers to assess how this might enhance absorptive capacity. Finally, it indicates how such interactions can facilitate the transition from potential to realised absorptive capacity. The article interrogates the incubation process by using the absorptive capacity framework to evaluate how it might strengthen the business model of new technology firms. The qualitative findings suggest that where founders, advisers, mentors and incubator directors engage collaboratively to create an iterative dialogue which informs the development of a viable business model, the process by which potential absorptive capacity can be fully realised is substantially strengthened

Determinants of science-based cooperation: evidence in a sample of small and micro firms

We study the determining factors of cience-based cooperation in the case of small and micro firms. In this research, we propose an analytical framework based on the resource-based view of the firm and we identify a set of organisational characteristics, which we classify as internal, external and structural factors. Each factor can be linked to at least one reason, from the firm¿s point of view, to cooperate with universities and public research centres. Each reason can, in turn, be used as an indicator of a firm¿s organisational needs or organisational capacities. In order to validate the theoretical model, we estimate a logistic regression that models the propensity to participate in science-based cooperation activities within a sample of 285 small and micro firms located in Barcelona. The results show the key role played by the absorptive capacity of new and small companies.Se estudian los factores determinantes de la ciencia basada en la cooperación en el caso de las pequeñas empresas y microempresas. En esta investigación, se propone un análisis marco basado en el punto de vista de los recursos de la empresa y que identifica un conjunto de características de la organización, que podemos clasificar como factores internos, externos y estructurales. Cada factor puede estar relacionado por lo menos con una razón, desde el punto de vista de la empresa, para cooperar con las universidades y centros públicos de investigación. Cada una de ellas, a su vez, se utilizará como un indicador de las necesidades organizativas de la empresa o su capacidad de organización. Con el fin de validar el modelo teórico, se estima una regresión logística que muestra la propensión a participar en las actividades de cooperación basadas en la ciencia de una muestra de 285 empresas pequeñas y microempresas ubicadas en Barcelona. Los resultados muestran el papel clave desempeñado por la capacidad de absorción de las empresas nuevas y pequeñas.S'estudien els factors determinants de la ciència basada en la cooperació en el cas de les petites empreses i microempreses. Aquesta investigació es proposa una anàlisi marc basada en el punt de vista dels recursos de l'empresa i que identifica un conjunt de característiques de la organització, que podem classificar amb factors interns, externs i estructurals. Cada factor pot estar relacionat com a mínim amb una raó, des del punt de vista de l'empresa, per cooperar amb universitats i centres públics d'investigació. Cada una d'aquestes, al seu torn, s'utilitzarà com un indicador de les necessitats organitzatives de l'empresa o la seva capacitat d'organització. Amb l'objectiu de validar el model teòric, es preveu una regressió logística que mostra la tendència a participar en les activitats de cooperació basades en la ciència d'una mostra de 285 empreses petites i microempreses ubicades a Barcelona. Els resultats mostren el paper clau dut a terme per la capacitat d'absorció de les noves i petites empreses

Managing In Knowledge-Based Economies: Managing for Knowledge, Absorptive Capacity and Innovation

Management processes have evolved to meet changing internal and external environments through different organisational forms, systems and processes. The emerging phenomena of the knowledge based economy challenges not only the strategic management of a firm but also the understandings and competencies of managers, both individually and collectively. This paper examines the challenge of managing in the global networked context of the knowledge economy. Using the knowledge based view of the firm and knowledge of management processes, we argue that management in the twenty-first century involves not only the familiar processes of managing tasks, managing others and managing change, but also requires a strategic approach to managing for knowledge, absorptive capacity and innovation

Regional innovation and spillover effects of foreign direct investment in China: a threshold approach

Using a data set on twenty-nine Chinese provinces for the period 1985–2008, this paper establishes a threshold model to analyse the relationship between spillover effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) and regional innovation in China. There is clear evidence of double-threshold effects of regional innovation on productivity spillovers from FDI. Specifically, only when the level of regional innovation reaches the minimum innovation threshold will FDI in the region begin to produce positive productivity spillovers. Furthermore, positive productivity spillovers from FDI will be substantial only when the level of regional innovation attains a higher threshold. The double threshold divides Chinese provinces into three super-regions in terms of innovation, with most provinces positioned within the middle-level innovation super-region. Policy implications are discussed

Knowledge management, absorptive capacity and organisational culture: A case study from Chinese SMEs

Copyright © 2008 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below.Based on the analysis of an innovative medium sized enterprise from mainland China, this paper investigated the Knowledge Management (KM) issues by focusing on its KM enablers and process. This paper attempts to investigate how Chinese enterprises absorb knowledge from external sources; how they developed culture to facilitate Knowledge Management Processes (KMPs) and what major challenges they raise for the future by looking at the case study of a Chinese Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). The case study indicates that Chinese enterprises emphasised knowledge acquisition and the capacities of knowledge absorption, application, creation, sharing and integration as vital to sustaining competitive advantage for these firms. Corporative organisational culture also has significant impact on the KM in those enterprises

Innovation in tourism: Re-conceptualising and measuring the absorptive capacity of the hotel sector

Recent reviews of research on innovation in tourism have highlighted a number of weaknesses in the literature. Among these is the limited theorising and empirical investigation of innovative practices by tourism organisations. This paper responds to these concerns by examining one important dimension of innovation within commercial tourism organisations, namely their ability to acquire, assimilate and utilise external knowledge (absorptive capacity) for competitive advantage. The topic is pertinent because there is evidence to suggest that tourism organisations are particularly dependent on external sources of knowledge when compared with businesses in other sectors. Following a discussion of the conceptual antecedents of absorptive capacity and its dimensions, a validated instrument for its measurement is developed and used to measure the absorptive capacity of the British hotel sector. The results suggest that current conceptions of absorptive capacity have limitations when applied to tourism enterprises. Absorptive capacity is re-conceptualised to overcome these deficiencies. The research and policy implications of the findings are discussed. © 2014 Elsevier Ltd

The impact of information technology resources on SMEs' innovation performance

This work aims to develop a research framework to examine the impact of information technology resources on the innovation performance of Saudi small-and-medium enterprises (SMEs). SMEs innovation capability influences growth and technological progress (Bruque & Moyano, 2007). However, many developing countries exhibit moderate or even low innovation performance. For instance, Saudi Arabia is ranked 54th by the Global Innovation Index (GII 2011). Innovation systems studies focus on the alignment between the interactions of innovation actors with their constantly changing environment toward better innovation performance (Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff, 2000). The dynamic capabilities of organisations have been highlighted as a crucial characteristic that helps to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage (Teece et al., 1997). The indirect impact IT resources on innovation performance represents an attractive research area (Benitez-Amado et al., 2010). Therefore, we argue that a closer look at Saudi SMEs information technology resources and their impact on the firm dynamic capabilities and innovation performance would make a significant contribution to existing knowledge. Areas such as the organisation strategies of developing countries, innovation management, dynamic capabilities, open innovation and strategic information systems are few examples of areas that might benefit from this work