Abstract: Innovation is increasingly becoming a key activity for firms to cope with the rapid changes in technology, increased competition, and growing product complexity. Some firms have found that an open model of innovation involving alliances with other firms to cope with the complex demands. This research focuses on the factors affecting the ability of firms to gain knowledge from its alliance partners to improve its innovation capability. The Indian biotechnology industry is the context for this study, as alliances in the Indian biotechnology industry are predominantly for the purpose of innovation and learning. Several hypotheses have been developed and tested statistically using a questionnaire survey with alliance top management representatives as key informants. The results were subjected to verification through case interviews with selected CEOs.

Abstract: Alliances are an important source of knowledge for innovation, especially in industries characterized by complex, distributed innovation processes. Learning is an integral part of gaining knowledge from alliance relationships, but it is problematic in many industries, such as bio-pharmaceuticals. We have not identified how to learn through alliances. Drawing on 99 interviews with scientist and managers in the bio-pharmaceuticals industry I build grounded theory to explain truly innovative learning in alliances. Truly innovative learning is creating new insights that play a role in helping innovators solve unmet customer needs. I present a typology of learning in alliances that explains why very little truly innovative learning happens in alliances. I explicate the two other types of learning that I find – limited and additive learning.

Abstract: In an attempt to uncover why do outcomes of R&D collaborative partnerships differ dramatically, we take on a firm-level process perspective and argue that alliance networking capability plays an important role in explaining how the access to and the exchange of technological knowledge embedded in “networks of learning” can yield greater overall R&D alliance success. Specifically, we develop a model that investigates how does the alliance networking capability mediate the relationship between embeddedness in alliance networks of learning and realized technological knowledge exchange, which will ultimately have differential effects on R&D outcomes in terms of R&D process or product innovations and improvements.

Abstract: In high-technology industries products are merely components within a larger system and their value, hence, depends on the system in its entirety. The underlying driver is networks and their effects, which have come to play an important role in shaping the dynamics that control market and customer behavior. This paper focuses on how a network technology transcends from idea into proof of concept. Furthermore, it is argued that the likelihood of a platform making this transition depends on the aspiring platform leader’s ability to generate an idea image and to substantiate the technology. If successful the adoption process will take off. The findings stem from an in-depth case of a Swedish company and its efforts in the business of digital pen and paper.