The Moderating Role of Technological Collaboration between Absorptive Capacity and Servitization : An Open Innovation Approach in High-Tech Industries

Manufacturing companies introduce services to offer customized solutions and thereby differentiate from the competition through service innovation. At the same time, firms use the absorptive capacity to identify and acquire external knowledge. The research domains of servitization and absorptive capacity have been developed in isolation. Recently, the synergies between the two have been recognized from the perspective of open innovation through technological collaboration. The aim of this paper is to analyze the interactions between absorptive capacity, technological collaboration along the value chain, and servitization. A theoretical model is proposed. Data on Spanish firms in high-tech industries, operating in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries were used. The results show that absorptive capacity emerges as a facilitator of servitization and technological collaboration moderates the relationship between absorptive capacity and servitization. The synergies between absorptive capacity and technological collaboration for servitization are recognized from the perspective of open innovation. This research advances knowledge of the relationships between product-service innovation, absorptive capacity, and technological collaboration in manufacturing companies. Open innovation strategy through technological collaboration should be linked to greater servitization activity and should support an open service strategy. This is crucial for building innovation capabilities and creating a competitive advantage through technological collaboration and servitization