Open Innovation and Firms’ R&D Activities

ABSTRACT

1. As a result of the accelerated speed of technological innovation and fusion as well as the expansion of the fusion technology field, it is becoming difficult to conduct important technological development completely within companies. In addition to business groups such as Keiretsu, therefore, collaboration with competitors and universities or public research institutions has also become indispensable.

2. This research discusses “market procurement of external technology” and “the role of knowledge disclosure in joint research”, comparatively new phenomena of external collaboration in companies’ research and development, conducting a survey on the theoretical background and introducing some cases.

3. When the separation of the research and development process is easy, it is desirable to procure each task from the market. The development of internet business in recent years as symbolized by Web 2.0 has encouraged the globalization of the R&D market and a growth of individual (not corporate) technology suppliers, and the importance of the market procurement of technology has increased.

4. On the other hand, when the separation of the research and development process is troublesome, joint research with certain other parties remains effective. However, finding an optimal collaboration partner is becoming increasingly difficult, and the publishing of research results could become an important key in promoting optimal “matching” with other parties.