Innovation Effects of Science-Related Technological Opportunities / Innovationseffekte von technologischen Möglichkeiten aus dem Wissenschaftsbereich : Theoretical Considerations and Empirical Findings for Firms in the German Manufacturing Industry / Theoretische Analyse und empirische Evidenz für das Verarbeitende Gewerbe in Deutschland

Summary This paper investigates the innovation effects of science-related technological opportunities. Against the background of theoretical considerations about the interrelation of innovation process and adaptation of external (knowledge) resources, the impacts of technological opportunities stemming from scientific institutions on firms’ innovation input and output are empirically analyzed for the German manufacturing industry. The investigations focus on the question of whether science-related technological opportunities are used as complements or substitutes in the innovation process. The estimations indicate complementary relationships between firms’ innovation input and technological opportunities stemming from scientific institutions. The adaptation of science-related knowledge resources has stimulating effects on the intensity of in-house R&D. The results for the innovation output effects are ambiguous. On the one hand, empirical evidence for complementary impacts on the realization of process innovations could be found. On the other hand, science-related technological opportunities have no enhancing effects on the probability of realizing product innovations. Obviously, knowledge from universities and research institutes stimulates the development of new products more indirectly by increasing in-house capacities and enhancing R&D efficiency.