Research on the influence of complementary assets on innovation performance of new R&D institutions

• Main Author: LI, Yong
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Institutional Knowledge at Singapore Management University 2024
• Subjects: new R&D institutions; complementary assets; environmental turbulence; innovation performance; Business Administration, Management, and Operations; Technology and Innovation
• Online Access: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/etd_coll/647; https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/context/etd_coll/article/1645/viewcontent/GPBF_AY2024_PhD_Yong_LI.pdf
• Institution: Singapore Management University

Since the development of new R&D institutions in China in the 1990s, they have received advocacy and support from both national and local governments. After more than 20 years of exploration and development, new R&D institutions have gradually developed characteristics such as diversified investment sources, flexible organizational structures, market-oriented operations, and multi-functional coordination. These institutions have increasingly played an active role in promoting scientific and technological innovation and regional economic development. In the research on the development and evolution, modes and mechanisms, and performance and evaluation of new R&D institutions, numerous results have been generated, promoting the construction and development of these institutions. At present, new R&D institutions are still developing, and empirical research on their innovation performance remains in its early stages. This study is grounded in open innovation theory and complementary asset theory, focusing on the core research question of the "influence of complementary assets on innovation performance of new R&D institutions." A theoretical analytical framework has been developed around the relationships of "horizontal/vertical complementary assets — technological turbulence/market turbulence — innovation breakthrough/innovation speed" to address two specific questions: (1) Do complementary assets significantly affect the innovation performance of new R&D institutions? (2) Does environmental turbulence moderate the relationship between complementary assets and the innovation performance of new R&D institutions? This study integrates theoretical and empirical research by combining literature collection, theoretical derivation, and concept definition. Using new R&D institutions in Zhejiang Province as the research sample, an empirical analysis was conducted through questionnaire data collection. The following conclusions are drawn: (1) A greater availability of vertical complementary assets enhances breakthrough innovation in new R&D institutions; (2) An increase in horizontal complementary assets promotes innovation speed in new R&D institutions; (3) More vertical complementary assets contribute to faster innovation of new R&D institution; (4) Market turbulence positively moderates the relationship between vertical complementary assets and innovation breakthrough in new R&D institutions; (5) Technological turbulence positively moderates the relationship between horizontal complementary assets and innovation speed in new R&D institutions; (6) Market turbulence positively moderates the relationship between vertical complementary assets and innovation speed in new R&D institutions. This study establishes the logical relationship between horizontal/vertical complementary assets and innovation breakthrough/speed of new R&D institutions, and conducts an empirical test. Therefore, this study further enriches the theoretical research on the influence of innovation performance in new R&D institutions and offers practical guidance for their enhancement.