Unpacking the effects of R&D strategy proximity on inter-firm knowledge flow: evidence from the global 3D printing industry

ABSTRACT

The determinants of inter-organisational knowledge flow have shifted from bilateral and static factors to network and dynamic factors. Therefore, this paper aims to explore the impact mechanism of firms’ dynamic behaviours on knowledge flow in a multiplex inter-firm strategy proximity network. The paper proposes a conceptual model to examine how the different research and development (R&D) dynamic strategies impact the inter-firm knowledge flow from a network-to-network lens, considering the moderating effect of the firm size heterogeneity. To test the hypotheses, we conducted an empirical study on 150 listed firms in the global 3D printing industry from 2005 to 2016 using multi-source heterogeneous data and Quadratic Assignment Procedure (QAP) regression model. Results show that the proximities of the R&D internationalisation strategy and R&D domain strategy are positively associated with the inter-firm knowledge flow. Firm size heterogeneity plays a moderating role, and these effects vary at different stages of industrialisation.

KEYWORDS:

• R&D strategy proximity
• knowledge flow
• 3D printing industry
• quadratic assignment procedure (QAP)

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The search query for 3D printing technology was “TS =  (3D printing) OR (three-dimensional printing) OR (3-dimensional printing) OR manufact*) OR (rapid* prototyp* manufact*) OR (Layered Manufact* Technology) OR (Solid free-form Fabrication) OR (Stereo Lithography Apparatus) OR (Laminated Object Manufact*) OR (Selective Laser Sinter*) OR (Fused Deposition Model*) OR (Laser Engineered Net Shap*) OR (Patternless Casting Manufact*) OR (Direct Metal Laser- Sinter*) OR (Direct Laser Fabrication) OR (direct metal deposition) OR (Laser clad* forming technology) OR (Electron Beam Selective Melt*) OR (Digital bricklay*) OR (3D mosaic) OR (ballistic particle manufact*)”.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China [grant number: 72272017, L2224047, 71974107, L2224059, L2124002]; National Social Science Foundation of China [grant number: 22AZD125]; Beijing Municipal Office of Philosophy and Social Science Planning [grant number: 22GLA012]; Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications Interdisciplinary Team Program for the ‘Double First-Class' Initiative [grant number: 2023SYLTD11]; Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program [grant number: 2022THZWYY09].

Notes on contributors

Guannan Xu

Guannan Xu is a Professor at the School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT). She is also the head of the Department of Public Management in the School of Economics and Management at BUPT. Her research interests include innovation management and strategic management. She publishes consistently in leading international journals, such as Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Scientometrics, IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, etc.

Ning Kang

Ning Kang is a Ph.D. candidate at the School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Her orientations are innovation management and strategic management. She publishes high-level articles in the Journal of Cleaner Production. And she has also attended academic conferences and given oral presentations several times.

Weijie Hu

Weijie Hu is a master’s student at the School of Economics and Management, Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications. Her orientations are innovation management and science and technology policy. She currently publishes many high-level papers in Scientometrics, Studies in Science of Science, etc.

Nazrul Islam

Nazrul Islam is a Professor of Business at the Royal Docks School of Business and Law, University of East London. His research has made important theoretical, conceptual, and empirical contributions to different fields, particularly on technological transformation, business intelligence, and innovation themes. He publishes consistently in leading international journals, such as Technological Forecasting and Social Change. His research papers have been shortlisted by the Research and Development Management Association (RADMA) and Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET) for best paper prizes.

Yuan Zhou

Yuan Zhou is an Associate Professor with Tenure at the School of Public Policy and Management, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. He also serves as the Assistant Director of the China Institute for Engineering Development Strategies. His recent research interests include public policy, innovation policy, and innovation management. He has authored or co-authored several papers in Engineering, Science and Public Policy, Technological Forecasting and Social Change (TFSC), IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, Nano Energy, Energy Policy, Scientometrics, etc. Dr. Zhou serves as the Department Editor of IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. He also serves as the Guest Editor of TFSC, R&D Management, and Scientometrics.