Effects of International R&D Alliances on Performance of High-Tech Start-Ups: A Longitudinal Analysis

Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 346-368, December 2009

48 Pages Posted: 21 Sep 2010 Last revised: 2 Feb 2014

See all articles by Massimo G. Colombo

Massimo G. Colombo

Politecnico di Milano

Luca Grilli

Polytechnic University of Milan - Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering

Samuele Murtinu

Utrecht University - School of Economics

Lucia Piscitello

Politecnico di Milano - Dipartimento di Ingegneria gestionale

Evila Piva

Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Gestionale

Date Written: October 21, 2009

Abstract

In this paper we use the theoretical lens of resource and competence-based perspectives and global strategic network theories to analyze the effects of international R&D alliances on the performance of high-tech start-ups. In the empirical section of the paper we consider the European Union funded international R&D alliances established by a large sample of Italian high-tech start-ups over the period from 1994 to 2003. We measure firm performance through total factor productivity and we resort to generalized method of moments system estimates to detect the treatment effect of alliance formation according to type and home country of the partners. The econometric results suggest that international R&D alliances are most beneficial to high-tech startups if i) they involve industrial partners located in a variety of countries and ii) these countries are closer to world knowledge sources.

Keywords: New technology-based firms, international R&D alliances, total factor productivity, global strategic networks, proximity

JEL Classification: M13, F23, D21, D24

Suggested Citation

Colombo, Massimo G. and Grilli, Luca and Murtinu, Samuele and Piscitello, Lucia and Piva, Evila, Effects of International R&D Alliances on Performance of High-Tech Start-Ups: A Longitudinal Analysis (October 21, 2009). Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, Vol. 3, No. 4, pp. 346-368, December 2009, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1680153

Massimo G. Colombo

Politecnico di Milano ( email )

Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32
20113 Milan
Italy

Luca Grilli

Polytechnic University of Milan - Department of Management, Economics and Industrial Engineering ( email )

Via Lambruschini 4C - building 26/A
Milano, 20156
Italy

Samuele Murtinu (Contact Author)

Utrecht University - School of Economics ( email )

Kriekenpitplein 21-22
Adam Smith Building
Utrecht, +31 30 253 7373 3584 EC
Netherlands

Lucia Piscitello

Politecnico di Milano - Dipartimento di Ingegneria gestionale ( email )

20113 Milan, Milano
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.dig.polimi.it/eng/comunita/cl.php?id=51

Evila Piva

Politecnico di Milano, Dipartimento di Ingegneria Gestionale ( email )

Piazza Leonardo da Vinci, 32
Milano, 20133
Italy

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