Title:
Technological diversity, scientific excellence and the location of inventive activities abroad: the case of nanotechnology
Technological diversity, scientific excellence and the location of inventive activities abroad: the case of nanotechnology
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Author(s)
Fernández-Ribas, Andrea
Shapira, Philip
Shapira, Philip
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Abstract
Our contribution to the expanding literature on the globalization of research and
innovation is to investigate the extent to which sector-specific developments in an
emerging technology (such as increasing interdisciplinarity and complexity) affect
inventive activities developed abroad. We look at how technological diversity and
scientific excellence of host countries in the field of nanotechnology affect the
development of inventive activities by US multinational companies (MNCs). We identify
the most active US-based MNCs in nanotechnology-related patenting and examine
location decisions of these companies and their international subsidiaries. Econometric
results confirm our hypothesis that the technological breadth of host countries positively
influences the expected number of inventions developed abroad by US MNCs. Science
capabilities of countries also have a positive impact on the decision to invent abroad,
while the influence of market specific factors is less clear. We interpret these results as
suggesting that host country science capabilities are important to attract innovative
activities by MNCs, but as the interdisciplinary and convergent nature of nanotechnology
evolves, access to a broadly diversified knowledge base becomes important in increasing
the relative attractiveness of host locations.
Sponsor
Sponsorship of this research was provided by the Center for Nanotechnology in Society (CNS-ASU funded by the National Science Foundation, Award No. 0531194)
Date Issued
2008-05
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Text
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Working Paper