The two faces of inventions: The relationship between recombination and impact in pharmaceutical biotechnology.

Autor/inn/en	Keijl, S; Gilsing, V.A; Knoben, J; Duysters, G
Titel	The two faces of inventions: The relationship between recombination and impact in pharmaceutical biotechnology.
Quelle	In: Research policy, (2016) 5, S.1061-1074 PDF als Volltext (1); PDF als Volltext (2); PDF als Volltext (3) Verfügbarkeit
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0048-7333
DOI	10.1016/j.respol.2016.02.008
Schlagwörter	Inventions; Patents; Hypothesis testing; Pharmaceutical industry; Studies; United States--US; Biotechnology
Abstract	Recombination' and 'impact' have become well established constructs to understand the origins of inventions and their importance for the development of future inventions. Despite forming these two familiar 'faces of inventions', their specific relationship has only marginally been subject to inquiry. To address this, this paper studies the relationship between the level of recombination of inventions and their technological impact, along two steps. First, in contrast to the common idea of a linear relationship between recombination and impact we argue that the relationship is in fact a non-linear one. Second, we distinguish between different levels of recombination (low, intermediate, high) and determine their differential impact, thereby establishing which type of recombination leads to the highest level of technological impact. We test our hypotheses on an extensive dataset, comprised of all USPTO granted patents in the biopharmaceutical industry between 1976 and 2006. Our empirical findings indicate strong evidence for a curvilinear relationship between recombination and impact. In addition, we find that an intermediate level of recombination -- formed by a combination of components from local, adjacent and distant knowledge domains -- carries the highest level of technological impact of all types of inventions. Finally, we discuss implications for the academic literature and for firms' innovation strategies. [web URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004873331630021X]
Erfasst von	OLC
Update	2023/3/07