Innovation and Knowledge Transfer by Firms in Biotechnology Clusters in Germany

This project investigates the relation between R&D collaboration, knowledge transfer, innovation, and firm performance in German biotechnology clusters. The researchers analyse two key questions:

1. Are firms in biotechnology clusters more innovative and successful? Existing studies have shown that firms in clusters have easier access to highly qualified employees and that there are greater knowledge spillovers. This is particularly important in the biotechnology sector. Therefore, biotechnology clusters are one of the key vehicles for regional innovation and growth. To investigate this, the project team will compare the innovation activities and performance of biotechnology firms that are regionally concentrated, i.e. part of a biotechnology cluster, with firms outside such a cluster.
    
2. How do resources provided by regional cluster organisations (for instance, networking events) affect a firm’s innovation success? Specifically, the researchers will investigate the additionality effects of active cluster policies on knowledge transfer, innovation, and firm performance within clusters. Moreover, it will analyse whether public R&D subsidies show additionality effects when assigned to firms in biotechnology clusters.

Project duration: April 2019 – August 2020

Internal members, ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, Mannheim:

• Dr. Florence Blandinières, ZEW Research Department “Economics of Innovation and Industrial Dynamics”
• Bastian Krieger, ZEW Research Department “Economics of Innovation and Industrial Dynamics”
• Dr. Maikel Pellens, ZEW Research Department “Economics of Innovation and Industrial Dynamics”

External members:

• Prof. Dr. Patrick Llerena, BETA and University of Strasbourg (France)
• Prof. Dr. Stephane Lhuillery, BETA and NEOMA Business School (France)
• Prof. Junichi Nishimura, PhD, Gakushuin University (Japan)
• Prof. Dr. Hiroyuki Okamuro, Hitotsubashi University (Japan)