A network analysis of cities hosting ICT R&D

Nepelski, Daniel and De Prato, Giuditta (2012): A network analysis of cities hosting ICT R&D. Forthcoming in: COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGIES (2012)

Abstract

We apply network analysis to study the ICT R&D locations at the city level. We use a dataset on the location and R&D activity of over 3000 R&D centres belonging to 175 MNEs, located in over 1300 cities around the world. The results show that most of the cities have few R&D connections and are grouped into "cliques", linked through network hubs. Hence, not only is the R&D activity concentrated in space, but also the nexus of connections between locations is limited. Asian and Japanese cities are favoured as a source of R&D services, as compared to European or US cities.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Networks, innovation and R&D, globalization, R&D complexity, network
• Subjects: M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M2 - Business Economics; O - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth > O3 - Innovation ; Research and Development ; Technological Change ; Intellectual Property Rights > O32 - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D; M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M1 - Business Administration > M10 - General

References

Cantwell, J. A. and O. Janne (1999). "Technological globalisation and innovative centres: the role of corporate technological leadership and locational hierarchy." Research Policy 28(2-3): 119-144.

De Benedictis, L. and L. Tajoli (2011). "The World Trade Network." Forthcoming in The World Economy.

De Prato, G. and D. Nepelski (2011). Global R&D network. Network analysis of international R&D centres. Seville, Spain, JRC-IPTS.

De Prato, G. and D. Nepelski (2012). Global technological collaboration network. Network analysis of international co-inventions. Forthcoming in the Journal of Technology Transfer.

Dunning, J. (2002). Regions, Globalization, and the Knowledge-Based Economy. Oxford, Oxford Scholarship Online Monographs.

Dunning, J. (2009). "Location and the multinational enterprise: A neglected factor." Journal of International Business Studies 40(1): 5-19.

Enright, M. J. (2009). "The location of activities of manufacturing multinationals in the Asia-Pacific." J Int Bus Stud 40(5): 818-839.

Fagiolo, G., J. Reyes, et al. (2007). The Evolution of the World Trade Web, Laboratory of Economics and Management (LEM), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Italy.

Kali, R. and J. Reyes (2007). "The architecture of globalization: a network approach to international economic integration." J Int Bus Stud 38(4): 595-620.

Lahiri, N. (2010). "Geographic distribution of R&D activity: how does it affect innovation quality?" Academy of Management Journal 53(5): 1194-1209.

Meyer, K. E., R. Mudambi, et al. (2011). "Multinational Enterprises and Local Contexts: The Opportunities and Challenges of Multiple Embeddedness." Journal of Management Studies 48(2): 235-252.

Nieto, M. J. and A. Rodriguez (2011). "Offshoring of R&D: Looking abroad to improve innovation performance." J Int Bus Stud 42(3): 345-361.

Sachwald, F. (2008). "Location choices within global innovation networks: the case of Europe." The Journal of Technology Transfer 33(4): 364-378.