Inbound open innovation in SMEs: indicators, non-financial outcomes and entry-timing

ABSTRACT

This study contributes to the literature on inbound open innovation in three ways. Firstly, it verifies the suitability of three groups of innovation activities (external information sources, cooperation and acquisition of machinery, knowledge or R&D) as indicators of open innovation, by modelling their relationship with the openness of the development of new products. Secondly, it relates these activities to three non-financial product-oriented outcomes of small and medium enterprises (SMEs): quality, product range and market share. When significant, the signs of the relationships are always positive. Thirdly, it is the first to link two streams of the literature on innovation within SMEs: open innovation and entry-timing. We distinguish between pioneers (the first to introduce innovations onto the market) and followers and find that most open innovation activities relate to the pioneering behaviour. This should be taken into consideration when designing public policies supporting innovation. Data include Spanish innovative SMEs from the Community Innovation Survey.

KEYWORDS:

• Open innovation
• small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
• innovation outcomes
• entry-timing

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements are due to Eurostat for providing us with the Community Innovation Survey micro data. Authors have all responsibility for the results obtained.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Franciane Hochleitner is PhD student in Economics at University of Girona, supported by a scholarship from the University of Girona (BR-UdG), Research Group on Statistics, Econometrics and Health. She has worked long time on finance, participated in research and academic projects related to economics, business, innovation and related topics. Her research interests are new businesses and innovation models in SMEs, and how these firms can put them in practice.

Anna Arbussà is an associate professor of organisation at the University of Girona (Spain). She received her PhD in Business Administration in 2001 from the same university, and her areas of academic interest include firm innovation, technology management, human resources and management of public health. She has taught in management, human resources and entrepreneurship, and consulted and participated in academic and institutional projects on electronic commerce, electronic payment systems, technology transfer, technology management and related topics.

Germà Coenders is associate professor of the Department of Economics at the University of Girona in Spain since 1997. He received his PhD from the University Ramon Llull in 1996. His research interests include quantitative methods for management, technological turbulence, service quality, innovation and new technologies. He has published over 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals, including Social Networks, Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, Quality and Quantity, Research Policy, Total Quality Management and Business Excellence, Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management, Tourism Management, Journal of Business Economics and Management and Structural Equation Modelling.

ORCiD

Franciane Paz Hochleitner http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1154-8472

Anna Arbussà http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1488-1403

Germà Coenders http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5204-6882

Additional information

Funding

F.P. Hochleitner was supported by the University of Girona grant [BR-UdG]. A. Arbussà was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness grant [ECO2013-46954-C3-3-R], by the Catalan Autonomous Government grant [2014SGR868] and by the University of Girona grant [MPCUdG2016/093]. G. Coenders was supported by the Catalan Autonomous Government grant [2014SGR551], by the Spanish Health Ministry grant [CB06/02/1002], by the Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Ministry grant [MINECO/FEDER-EU MTM2015-65016-C2-1-R] and by the University of Girona grant [MPCUdG2016/069].