Combined innovation and export strategies of KIBS in different regional settings

ABSTRACT

This paper examines how KIBS establishments combine innovation and exports, and which factors are associated with these combinations. In particular, we hypothesize that KIBS establishments which both export and innovate will be over-represented in metropolitan regions, and under-represented in peripheral regions. Our analysis draws upon a sample of 429 innovative KIBS establishments in the province of Quebec (Canada). We show that strategies differ across space (but not as expected – metropolitan and peripheral strategies are similar), that T-KIBS’ strategies are associated with non-market information sources, and that P-KIBS' strategies are associated with information purchasing. P-KIBS’ and T-KIBS’ strategies vary with the performance of in-house R&D. Taken together, these results suggest that whereas KIBS’ choice of export and innovation strategies do not reflect their ‘hard’ or ‘soft’ nature, the factors associated with this choice do. The similarity between metropolitan and peripheral regions reflects the fact that Quebec’s resource-based peripheral economy is international and innovative.

KEYWORDS:

• Innovation
• exports
• KIBS
• regions
• Quebec
• Canada

JEL CLASSIFICATION:

• O00
• L10
• L80
• R12.

Acknowledgments

Funding from the Social Science and Humanities Research Council in Canada is gratefully acknowledged (SSHRC 435-2017-1042). The usual disclaimers apply. The authors also for very valuable comments from the associate editor of Industry & Innovation, Grazia Santangelo and the anonymous referees of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Social Science and Humanities Research Council in Canada [SSHRC 435-2017-1042].