Research On Inter-firm Innovation Network Based On Knowledge Transfer

Inter-firm innovation network is regarded as the sum of system arrangements and ties centered around the innovation goals among various actors, including firms, universities, research institutes, governments, sci-tech intermediaries, and financial institutions. The developing knowledge economy, contemporary science and technology, economic globalization, and modern information technology revolution, jointly constitute the research context, where knowledge has been the key resource, and knowledge transfer has been viewed as the basis for one firm to obtain competitive advantages. So it is significant theoretically and practically to do research on inter-firm innovation network from the perspective of knowledge transfer.This paper firstly reviews the research on innovation network and knowledge transfer, analyzes the role orientation of various actors and their evolution, and then focuses on the influential factors of knowledge transfer in the inter-firm innovation network. Based on the research before, the paper discusses the establishing and running mechanism facilitating knowledge transfer in the network. Finally, the paper does empirical study on some petroleum and petrochemical firms in China, and introduces some countermeasures for China to build up its inter-firm innovation network. The main research and conclusions are as follows:(1) The paper sets up two models, the Dynamic Balance Model of Knowledge Transfer and the DSA Model of Tacit Knowledge Transfer between two organizations, to explain respectively the dynamics, process, and influential factors of knowledge transfer through both of qualitative and quantitative methods. It argues that the transfer dynamics are from the value embodiment of transferred knowledge, the push from market benefit, and the pull from the government's policies. An analytical framework is established to discuss the influencing factors of knowledge transfer from the approaches of knowledge characters, knowledge sender, knowledge receiver, and transfer context. In order to improve the effectiveness of knowledge transfer, some thinking ways, including shared version, social capital, leaning mechanism, transfer paths, and network culture, should be taken into consideration.(2) The paper introduces some principles of establishing network and designs a three-dimension model of partnership selection. Firstly, it states that some particular principles, including diverse actors, reciprocal goals, open structure, flexible governance, leaning ties, and compatible culture, must be considered in establishing innovation network. Then the firms should identify their own proper innovation strategy from leading, following, simulating, and integrative innovation. The three-dimension framework of advantage complementarities, strategic fit and cultural compatibility is helpful for firms to identify the right partnerships. Finally, the paper further discusses the learning mechanism of inter-firm network and presents the coordination mechanism from the perspective of knowledge spillover.(3) The paper draws some lessons from the study on UK's innovation policies and Science park movement in promoting knowledge transfer and industry-academic links. Based on the empirical research on Chinese petroleum and petrochemical inter-firm innovation network, the paper analyzes their features and shortcomings, and then discusses the relationship between network leaning and innovation performance by means of linear regression. At last, the paper gives some detailed suggestions as following: improving National Innovation System, making full use of firms as the main body of technology innovation, and building sci-tech innovation platform in some key universities with obvious industrial characteristics.