How transfer of R&D to emerging markets nurtures global innovation performance

Abstract

In the context of global R&D, we connect literature on knowledge management to a network-based theoretical framework helpful to explain the impact of R&D globalisation on innovation performance. This framework is applied to two case companies, both global leaders within their respective industries, in order to analyse the extent to which their strategic globalisation of R&D activities, from Scandinavia to China, has contributed to increased innovation performance. Our findings suggests that close interaction and cross-fertilisation with local knowledge networks are of eminent importance for newly established R&D offsprings to improve overall innovation performance. Pack Tech illustrates this through a collaboration-intensive approach to university competitions in China.