MEASUREMENT OF THE ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY OF FIRMS THAT HAVE INTERACTION WITH UNIVERSITIES

Authors

  • Andreia Cunha da Rosa PPGE/UNISINOS
  • Janaina Ruffoni PPGE UNISINOS

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5902/1414650912678

Keywords:

Firm’s Absorptive Capacity, University–Industry Interactions, Measure

Abstract

The literature has highlighted contributions of university-enterprises interaction (UE) for the firm’s innovative performance, since when interacting the firm access and use external knowledge, expanding their ability to innovate. A key aspect for UE interaction results in innovations is the firm’s ability of the firm to absorb external knowledge. To advance in understanding the relationship between UE interaction and absorptive capacity (AC) is essential to understand how CA is measured. After a review of the literature between 2000 and 2012, three current studies were selected because of their adherence to the proposal discussion here and suggested measurement elements already empirically validated. Based on this, a framework for measuring was proposed, verified empirically in a survey research - held in 2013 with firms that had interaction with universities - and validated by the reliability analysis favorable results. The paper contributes by proposing a synthetic set of measuring absorptive capacity elements already validated empirically and points to progress towards a more specific proposal to the reality of firms that interact with universities and to include in the measures other two dimensions of firm’s absorptive capacity: the scientific and industrial.

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Author Biographies

Andreia Cunha da Rosa, PPGE/UNISINOS

Mestre pelo PPGE-UNISINOS

Janaina Ruffoni, PPGE UNISINOS

Graduada em Ciências Econômicas pela FCE/UFRGS, mestre em Gestão de Ciência e Tecnologia pelo PPGA/UFRGS e doutora em Política Científica e Tecnológica pelo DPCT/UNICAMP. Realizou estágio de doutoramento no Dipartimento di Scienze Economiche e Metodi Quantitativi da Università Degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale Amedeo Avogadro em Novara-Itália. Desenvolveu tese de doutorado a respeito das características do processo de inovação de firmas industriais pertencentes a Sistemas Locais de Inovação (SLPs). É professora do Programa de Pós-Graduação em Economia da UNISINOS.Tem experiência de ensino e pesquisa na UNICAMP, UFRGS e UNISINOS. Coordena o Grupo de Pesquisa em Dinâmica Econômica da Inovação (GDIN). Atua principalmente nas áreas de Economia da Tecnologia e Industrial. Temas de interesse: dinâmica de inovação da firma, proximidade geográfica e transferência de conhecimento entre firmas e instituições, interação universidade-empresa, capacidade inovativa da firma e percepção pública de ciência e tecnologia.

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Published

2014-07-11

How to Cite

Rosa, A. C. da, & Ruffoni, J. (2014). MEASUREMENT OF THE ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY OF FIRMS THAT HAVE INTERACTION WITH UNIVERSITIES. Economia E Desenvolvimento, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.5902/1414650912678

Issue

V. 26, n. 1, jan./jun. 2014

Section

Articles

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