National and international R&D support programmes and technology scouting in European small and medium enterprises. Issue 4 (20th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Radicic, Dragana
• Is Part Of: Journal of science & technology policy management. Volume 11:Issue 4(2020)
• Page Start: 455
• Page End: 482
• Publication Date: 2020-05-20
• Subjects: External knowledge search -- Behavioural additionality -- Copula-based endogenous switching model -- European SMEs -- Technology scouting; Science and state -- Periodicals; Science and state -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Technology and state -- Periodicals; Technology and state -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Research, Industrial -- Periodicals; Research, Industrial -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; Technological innovations -- Periodicals; Technological innovations -- Developing countries -- Periodicals; 509.1724
• DOI: 10.1108/JSTPM-10-2019-0091
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2053-4620

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of national and international R&D support programmes on firms' technology scouting, defined as firms' use of external knowledge sources. Design/methodology/approach: Drawing on a unique data set on R&D support programmes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in both manufacturing and service sectors across 28 European countries, this study reports treatment effects estimated by the copula-based endogenous switching model, which takes into account unobserved firm heterogeneity. Findings: Empirical results indicate that R&D support programmes have heterogeneous effects on technology scouting. In particular, a crowding-out effect arises in the case of informal sources of external knowledge, whereas additional effects are reported for formal, strategic sources. Practical implications: For informal sources of external knowledge, a random distribution of R&D measures would have a substantially larger effect rather than using current selection criteria. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to explore the policy effects on technology scouting applying a copula-based endogenous switching model. Most cross-sectional empirical studies use matching estimators, although their main disadvantage is the selection on observables.