MNEs and knowledge creation in Medellín’s emerging ICT hub

Figures & data

Table 1. Operationalisation of the analytical framework.

MNE ADVANTAGES		LOCAL ECONOMY'S ADVANTAGES
Indicator	Subindicator	Indicator	Subindicator
1. Location-specific advantages	Local developmental level	1. Value creation	Influence of MNE activities on the fulfilment of development strategies
	Favourable governance and knowledge environments		Improvement in activities, knowledge, or products
	Complementary and strategic resources		Agglomeration and advancement of knowledge resources
2. Local relations	Type of relations	2. Local actors’ engagement with MNEs	Local stakeholder exposure to MNE activities
	Level of knowledge creation		Knowledge-intensive connections
3. Collocation advantages	Business and institutional facilitation	3. Translocal relations	Access to global knowledge flows and practices
	Pools of resources, specialised skills, and networks		Translocal relations impact on local resource enhancement
	Generic or specialised knowledge		Participation of local partners in the production and use of translocal knowledge

Table 2. Structure of the analysis and summary of the findings: sources of localised knowledge creation from the perspectives of the MNEs and the local economy.

MNE PERSPECTIVE		LOCAL ECONOMY’S PERSPECTIVE
RESOURCE-SEEKING MNEs
Medellín advantages	Proximity to a key market	Employees’ capability upgrade and skilled labour agglomeration	Value creation
Local relations	Mediation by Ruta-N in local recruiting	Employment	Local actors’ engagement with MNEs
Collocation advantages at Ruta-N	Intermediation in the local economy	Increase of advanced offshore services; internationalisation of local firms	Translocal relations
MARKET-SEEKING MNEs
Medellín advantages	Unfolding knowledge-based development	Consolidation of the knowledge-based economy	Value creation
Local relations	Partnerships to source, develop, and combine knowledge	Introduction, development, and use of MNEs’ products and services	Local actors’ engagement with MNEs
Collocation advantages at Ruta-N	Strategic business and market information, partners, and customers	Collaboration between local actors’ and MNEs’ networks	Translocal relations
EFFICIENCY-SEEKING MNEs
Medellín advantages	Favourable location, institutions, and resources to serve advanced markets	Labour market diversification and upgrade	Value creation
Local relations	Influencing educational curricula to meet MNE labour demands	Cocreation of local knowledge resources	Local actors’ engagement with MNEs
Collocation advantages at Ruta-N	Easy entry and visibility in a qualified community	Local knowledge and labour upgrade to international standards	Translocal relations
STRATEGIC ASSET-SEEKING MNEs
Medellín advantages	Emergent innovation ecosystem	Stimulation of the local innovation ecosystem with up-to-date industry knowledge	Value creation
Local relations	Monitoring and nurturing the innovation ecosystem	Local innovation ecosystem supported and influenced by MNEs	Local actors’ engagement with MNEs
Collocation advantages at Ruta-N	Access to technology firms, participation in innovation ecosystem	Local resource nurturing for global consumption	Translocal relations

Table A1. Characteristics of the sample MNEs.

Strategic motivation	MNE name	Nationality of ownership	Size by employees worldwide	Firm type
Resource-Seeking	Lambda	USA	Small	Digital commerce
	Mi	USA	Small	Digital commerce
Market-Seeking	Delta	Puerto Rico	Small	Digital platform for environmental, health, & safety management
	Xi	UK	Small	Consulting for sustainable processes, green cities, & buildings
	Dseta	Argentina	Medium	Springboard in the technological sector, social enterprise
	Gamma	Mexico	Small	Data storage, technological products & services provider
	Epsilon	Chile	Small	Coworking services
Efficiency-Seeking	Alfa	Brazil	Large	Business IT solutions & telecommunication services
	Kappa	The Netherlands	Medium	Digital platform for gyms & trainers
	Iota	USA	Large	Digital commerce
	Theta	UK	Large	Digital platform for sports technology
	Ni	Canada	Medium	Digital platform for job search aggregator
Strategic Asset-Seeking	Ipsilon	USA	Medium	Digital platform for voice, writing, & translations
	Beta	China	Global	Telecommunications equipment
	Eta	USA	Global	Consulting for IT services

Note: MNE sizes: global (more than 10000), large (400–10000), medium-sized (100–200), and small (less than 100 employees).