How do social capital in collaborative R&D network and cohesion of knowledge network shape firm innovation resilience?

Abstract

The formation mechanism of firm innovation resilience is influenced by the synergistic effects of resource-related factors in the collaborative research and development (R&D) network and structural factors in the internal knowledge network. Using the Fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis method, this study selects 119 automobile manufacturing enterprises as the sample to investigate the configurations formed by the alignment of social capital in collaborative R&D network (structural capital, relationship breadth, relationship strength, cognitive capital) and cohesion of the knowledge network (local cohesion, global cohesion). The results reveal three configurational paths for achieving high firm innovation resilience: “core technology-driven,” “heterogeneous resource-driven,” and “relational-cognitive capital accumulation.” Additionally, “social capital deficiency” and “knowledge base deficiency” are identified as reasons for the absence of high firm innovation resilience. The study confirms that no single antecedent condition is necessary for achieving high firm innovation resilience. It supports the multi-network theory’s explanation of firm innovation and advances research on social capital and the knowledge-based view by examining how the structure of social capital and knowledge networks enhances firm innovation resilience.