Internal capabilities, network resources and appropriation mechanisms as determinants of R&D outsourcing

This paper contributes to an empirical validation of R&D outsourcing by integrating the influence of internal capabilities, network resources and appropriation mechanisms. Internal capabilities refer to internal R&D and human capital. Network resources account for decisions to outsource R&D which co-depend on informal incoming knowledge spillovers. Appropriation accounts for formal and informal knowledge protection mechanisms. This empirical study discusses the determinants of R&D outsourcing with respect to various theories of the firm that complement each other.