跨国研发网络知识连接与双元创新——基于研发单元视角

Knowledge Connection and Ambidextrous Innovation in Multinational R&D Networks:From the Perspective of R&D Unit

探究跨国研发网络中,研发单元不同程度跨组织边界和国家边界建立知识连接对研发单元双元创新的差异化作用,为研发单元的知识获取策略提供参考。基于华为1999—2019年的国际专利分类(PCT)数据分析,得到以下结论:组织边界和国家边界存在相互作用,跨边界来源知识新颖性收益更高,而内部知识连接和本地知识连接有助于减少研发单元跨边界知识获取的障碍与成本,增强跨国内部知识连接和本地外部知识连接对挖掘性创新的促进作用;跨国知识连接和外部知识连接组合能最大化知识新颖性收益,使得跨国外部知识连接对探索性创新的促进作用最大。基于研究结果提出企业可以通过跨国研发网络实现对全球技术资源的充分利用与整合,以开发新技术或新产品为目标的研发项目应选择与自身已有知识库重叠度更低的合作伙伴建立知识连接等相关管理建议。

This paper aims to investigate the differential effect of the establishment of knowledge connections of R&D unit across organizational and national boundaries in different degrees in multinational R&D networks on the ambidextrous innovation of R&D units, and to provide advice for the knowledge acquisition strategies of R&D units.Based on Huawei’s 1999-2019 Patent Cooperation Treaty(PCT) data analysis, the paper draws following conclusions:there is an interaction between organizational boundaries and national boundaries, internal knowledge connections and local knowledge connections can help reduce the barriers and costs of cross-border knowledge acquisition in R&D units and enhance the promotion of cross-national knowledge connection between R&D units and the local external knowledge connection on exploitative innovation, while the novelty benefits of cross-border sources of knowledge are higher;the combination of cross-organization and cross-national knowledge connections can maximize the novelty benefits and therefore become the most helpful factor advancing exploratory innovation. Based on the research results, the paper puts forward some management suggestions, including enterprises can fully utilize and integrate global technology resources through multinational R&D networks, and R&D projects aiming at developing new technologies or products should establish knowledge connection with partners with lower overlap degree of existing knowledge base.