Absorptive capacity and the diffusion of innovation in NTBFs and startups: A study in the Brazilian Federal District

Authors

DOI:

10.14211/regepe.esbj.e2238

Keywords:

Absorptive capacity, Innovation, Diffusion of innovation, Startups, New rechnology-based firms

Abstract

Purpose: To verify the contribution of the Absorptive Capacity (ACAP) to the diffusion of innovation in New Technology-Based Firms (NTBFs) and startups in the Brazilian Federal District. Method: In-depth interviews study with 20 innovative firms, 12 (twelve) startups and 8 (eight) NTBFs. The results are discussed in two items of analysis: Analysis of the profile of the firms and the Analysis of the Descending Hierarchical Classification (DHC) and of the content, in a comparative perspective around 14 thematic categories. Findings: The development factors associated with the Potential of Absorptive Capacity (PACAP) were observed as the antecedents of the diffusion of innovation. On the other hand, factors related to the Realized Absorptive Capacity (RACAP) are involved directly in the diffusion of innovation, with emphasis on the ability to generate innovation results through channels of market introduction, adoption of new technologies and financial investments. Theoretical/methodological contributions: The study contributes to the theoretical field, still lacking in production, especially regionally, on the relationship between the constructs investigated in the context of innovative firms. Supporting programs, can gain insights to improve the advanced support that facilitates access to knowledge to be adopted and conversion into innovation. Relevance/originality: The research extends the understanding of the relationship between ACAP and the diffusion of innovation, involving the absorption of knowledge and the dynamics of these constructs through the integration of critical factors in specific contexts still little investigated, such as in NTBFs and startups involving regional innovation ecosystems. Management/Social Contributions: The empirical investigation and factors addressed provide managerial implications for the practices of these firms when developing innovations, as well as for planning, developing or strengthening innovation programs and policies.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Bruno Alencar Pereira, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brasil

is a lecturer and researcher in entrepreneurship and innovation at the College of Business, Government and Law at Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia. He holds a Doctorate from the University of Brasília, a Master's from the Federal University of Goiás, a Specialization from Uniderp-UniAnhanguera and a Graduation from Faculdade Anhanguera de Anápolis. His areas of interest include Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Industry Transformation. He is a member of the Australian Industrial Transformation Institute and the Australian Computer Society.

Josivania Silva Farias, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brasil

is an Associate Professor at the Universidade de Brasília (UnB), in the Administration Department. Professor of Undergraduate course (ADM/UnB) and the Graduate / Post-graduate Program in Administration (PPGA/UnB), Federal District, Brazil. She holds a Doctorate from the University of Brasília, Postdoctoral Internship as a visiting researcher at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Masters, Specialization, and Graduation from the Federal University of Sergipe, and an MBA from the Getúlio Vargas Foundation (RJ). Her areas of interest include Administration, with an emphasis on Service Marketing and Service Innovation (in the public and private sector). She is leader of the Research Group: LInseLab-Laboratory of Studies and Research on Innovation and Services, certified by CNPq.

References

ABStartups - Associação Brasileira de Startups. (2019). Associação Brasileira de Startups: Mapeamento de Comunidades região Centro-Oeste. https://abstartups.com.br/mapeamento-Centro-Oeste/

Anatoliivna, V. O. (2013). Absorptive capacity in organizational theories: Learning, innovation, managerial cognition. Marketing & Management of Innovations, 4, 190-199. https://doi.org/10.21272/mmi.2013.4-18

Aribi, A., & Dupouët, O. (2015). The role of organizational and social capital in the firm’s absorptive capacity. Journal of Knowledge Management, 19(5), 987-1006. https://doi.org/10.1108/JKM-05-2015-0169

Bardin, L (1977). Análise de conteúdo. Lisboa: Edições.

Barnett, J., Vasileiou, K., Djemil, F., Brooks, L., & Young, T. (2011). Understanding innovators' experiences of barriers and facilitators in implementation and diffusion of healthcare service innovations: A qualitative study. BMC Health Services Research, 11(1), 342-342. https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-11-342

Benson, D., & Ziedonis, R. H. (2009). Corporate Venture Capital as a Window on New Technologies: Implications for the Performance of Corporate Investors When Acquiring Startups. Organization Science, 20(2), 329-351. https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.1080.0386

Blank, S., & Dorf, B. (2012). The step-by-step guide for building a great company. Pescadero, Calif: K&S Ranch, Inc.

Burcharth, A. L. L. A., Lettl, C., & Ulhøi, J. P. (2015). Extending organizational antecedents of absorptive capacity: Organizational characteristics that encourage experimentation. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 90, 269-284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2013.12.024

Camargo, B. V. (2005). ALCESTE: Um programa informático de análise quantitativa de dados textuais. In A. S. P. Moreira, B. V. Camargo, J. C. Jesuíno, & S. M. Nóbrega (Eds.), Perspectivas teórico-metodológicas em representações sociais (pp. 511-539). João Pessoa, PB: Editora da Universidade Federal da Paraíba.

Camargo, B. V., & Justo, A. M. (2013). IRAMUTEQ: um software gratuito para análise de dados textuais. Temas em Psicologia, 21(2), 513-518. https://doi.org/10.9788/TP2013.2-16

Camisón, C., & Forés, B. (2010). Knowledge absorptive capacity: New insights for its conceptualization and measurement. Journal of Business Research, 63(7), 707-715. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2009.04.022

Chung, D., Jung, H., & Lee, Y. (2021). Investigating the relationship of high-tech entrepreneurship and innovation efficacy: The moderating role of absorptive capacity. Technovation, 111, 102393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2021.102393

Cohen, W., & Levinthal, D. (1990). Absorptive Capacity: A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation. Administrative Science Quarterly, 35(1), 128-152. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393553

Cuvero, M., Granados, M. L., Pilkington, A., & Evans, R. D. (2019). The effects of knowledge spillovers and accelerator programs on the product innovation of high-tech startups: A multiple case study. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 1-14. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2019.2923250

Dabic, M., Vlacic, E., Ramanathan, U., & Egri, C. P. (2020). Evolving absorptive capacity: The mediating role of systematic knowledge management. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 67(3), 783-793. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2019.2893133

Deeds, D. L. (2001). The role of P&D intensity, technical development and absorptive capacity in creating entrepreneurial wealth in high technology startups. Journal of Engineering and Technology Management, 18(1), 29-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0923-4748(00)00032-1

Flechas Chaparro, X. A., Kozesinski, R., & Salles Camargo Júnior, A. (2021). Absorptive capacity in startups: A Systematic literature review. Journal of Entrepreneurship, Management and Innovation, 17(1), 57-95. https://doi.org/10.7341/20211712

Flor, M. L., Cooper, S. Y., & Oltra, M. J. (2017). External knowledge search, absorptive capacity and radical innovation in high-technology firms. European Management Journal, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2017.08.003

Fontanella, B. J. B., Luchesi, B. M., Saidel, M. G. B., Ricas, J., Turato, E. R., & Melo, D. G. (2011). Amostragem em pesquisas qualitativas: proposta de procedimentos para constatar saturação teórica. Cadernos de Saúde Pública, 27(2), 388-394. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X2011000200020

Fukugawa, N. (2013). University spillovers into small technology-based firms: channel, mechanism, and geography. Journal of Technology Transfer, 38(4), 415-431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-012-9247-x

Garengo, P. (2019-2018). How bridging organisations manage technology transfer in SMEs: An empirical investigation. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 31(4), 477-491. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2018.1520976

Ho, H., Osiyevskyy, O., Agarwal, J., & Reza, S. (2020). Does ambidexterity in marketing pay off? The role of absorptive capacity. Journal of Business Research, 110, 65-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.12.050

Hötte, K. (2020). How to accelerate green technology diffusion? directed technological change in the presence of coevolving absorptive capacity. Energy Economics, 85, 104565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2019.104565

Hughes, P., Hodgkinson, I. R., Hughes, M., & Arshad, D. (2017). Explaining the entrepreneurial orientation–performance relationship in emerging economies: The intermediate roles of absorptive capacity and improvisation. Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 1-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10490-017-9539-7

Jantunen, A. (2005). Knowledge‐processing capabilities and innovative performance: an empirical study. European Journal of Innovation Management, 8(3), 336-349. https://doi.org/10.1108/14601060510610199

Kato, M. (2020). Founders’ human capital and external knowledge sourcing: Exploring the absorptive capacity of startup firms. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 29(2), 184-205. https://doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2019.1598670

Larrañeta, B., Galán González, J. L., & Aguilar, R. (2017). Early efforts to develop absorptive capacity and their performance implications: differences among corporate and independent ventures. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 42(3), 485-509. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-016-9488-1

Li, Y., Youtie, J., & Shapira, P. (2015). Why do technology firms publish scientific papers? The strategic use of science by small and midsize enterprises in nanotechnology. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 40, 1016. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-014-9391-6

Lindelöf, P., & Löfsten, H. (2003). Science park location and new technology-based firms in Sweden–implications for strategy and performance. Small Business Economics, 20(3), 245-258. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1022861823493

Luo, B. N., Lui, S. S., & Kim, Y. (2017). Revisiting the relationship between knowledge search breadth and firm innovation: A knowledge transfer perspective. Management Decision, 55(1), 2-14. https://doi.org/10.1108/MD-07-2015-0327

Malik, K., & Wei, J. (2011). How external partnering enhances innovation: evidence from Chinese technology-based SMEs. Technology Analysis & Strategic Management, 23(4), 401-413. https://doi.org/10.1080/09537325.2011.558398

Marcon, A., & Ribeiro J. L. D. (2021). How do startups manage external resources in innovation ecosystems? A resource perspective of startups’ lifecycle. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 171, 120965. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.120965

Mason, G., Rincon-Aznar, A., & Venturini, F. (2020). Which skills contribute most to absorptive capacity, innovation and productivity performance? Evidence from the US and Western Europe. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 29(3), 223-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/10438599.2019.1610547

Motohashi, K. (2005). University–industry collaborations in Japan: The role of new technology-based firms in transforming the National Innovation System. Research Policy, 34:, 583-594. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2005.03.001

Nooteboom, B., Van Haverbeke, W., Duysters, G., Gilsing, V., & Van den Oord, A. (2007). Optimal cognitive distance and absorptive capacity. Research Policy, 36(7), 1016-1034. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2007.04.003

Mueller, P. (2007). Exploiting entrepreneurial opportunities: The impact of entrepreneurship on growth. Small Business Economics, 28(4), 355-362. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-006-9035-9

Rogers, E. M. (1983). Diffusion of innovations. New York: The Free Press.

Rothaermel, F. T., & Thursby, M. (2005). University–incubator firm knowledge flows: assessing their impact on incubator firm performance. Research Policy, 34(3), 305-320. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2004.11.006

Salviati, M. (2017). Manual do Aplicativo Iramuteq (versão 0.7 Alpha 2 e R Versão 3.2.3). http://www.iramuteq.org/documentation/fichiers/manual-do-aplicativo-iramuteq-par-maria-elisabeth-salviati

Sebrae - Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio às Micro e Pequenas Empresas (2019). Confira as diferenças entre microempresa, pequena empresa e MEI. https://www.sebrae.com.br/sites/PortalSebrae/artigos/entenda-as-diferencas-entre-microempresa-pequena-empresa-e-mei,03f5438af1c92410VgnVCM100000b272010aRCRD

Serrano-Bedia, A. M., López-Fernández, M. C., & García-Piqueres, G. (2012). Complementarity between innovation activities and innovation performance: Evidence from Spanish innovative firms. Journal of Manufacturing Technology Management, 23(5), 557-577. https://doi.org/10.1108/17410381211234408

Sheng, M. L., & Chien, I. (2016). Rethinking organizational learning orientation on radical and incremental innovation in high-tech firms. Journal of Business Research, 69(6), 2302-2308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2015.12.046

Souza, M. A. R., Wall, M. L., Thuler, A. C. M. C., Lowen, I. M. V., & Peres, A. M. (2018). O uso do software IRAMUTEQ na análise de dados em pesquisas qualitativas. Revista da Escola de Enfermagem da USP; 52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1980-220X2017015003353

Teigland, R., Gangi, P. M., Flåten, B., Giovacchini, B., & Pastorino, N. (2014). Balancing on a tightrope: Managing the boundaries of a firm-sponsored OSS community and its impact on innovation and absorptive capacity. Information and Organization, 24(1), 25-47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infoandorg.2014.01.001

Ubeda, F. M., Ortiz-de-Urbina-Criado, M., & Mora-Valentín, E. (2019). Do firms located in science and technology parks enhance innovation performance? The effect of absorptive capacity. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 44(1), 21-48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-018-9686-0

Veugelers, R., & Cassiman, B. (1999). Make and buy in innovation strategies: evidence from Belgian manufacturing firms. Research Policy, 28(1), 63-80. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-7333(98)00106-1

von Briel, F., Schneider, C., & Lowry, P. B. (2019). Absorbing Knowledge from and with External Partners: The Role of Social Integration Mechanisms. Decision Science, 50(1), 7-45. https://doi.org/10.1111/deci.12314

Wang, Z., Wang, Q., Zhao, X., Lyles, M. A., & Zhu, G. (2016). Interactive effects of external knowledge sources and internal resources on the innovation capability of Chinese manufacturers. Industrial Management & Data Systems, 116(8), 1617-1635. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMDS-10-2015-0412

Yang, D., Li, L., Jiang, X., & Zhao, J. (2019). The fit between market learning and organizational capabilities for management innovation. Industrial Marketing Management, 86, 223-232. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indmarman.2019.12.007

Zahra S. A., & George, G. (2002). Absorptive capacity: a review, reconceptualization, and extension. Academy of Management Review, 27, 185-203. https://doi.org/10.2307/4134351

Zheng, Y., Liu, J., & George, G. (2010). The dynamic impact of innovative capability and inter-firm network on firm valuation: A longitudinal study of biotechnology startups. Journal of Business Venturing, 25(6), 593-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2009.02.001

Published

2023-04-12

Métricas


Visualizações do artigo: 456     pdf (Português (Brasil)) downloads: 86 Viewer (xml, epub, html) (Português (Brasil)) downloads: 0 Mobile (Português (Brasil)) downloads: 0

How to Cite

Pereira, B. A., & Farias, J. S. (2023). Absorptive capacity and the diffusion of innovation in NTBFs and startups: A study in the Brazilian Federal District. REGEPE Entrepreneurship and Small Business Journal, 12(1), e2238. https://doi.org/10.14211/regepe.esbj.e2238

Issue

Section

Research article (Theoretical-empirical)

Similar Articles

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.