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Exploring factors affecting international technological specialization: the role of knowledge flows and the structure of innovative activity

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Abstract.

We define international technological specialisation (ITS) as the technological performance of a country in a specific technology relative to its overall international technological performance. This paper uses patent applications and patent citations at the European Patent Office for five countries (US, UK, Italy, France, Germany) from 1989 to 1994 for 135 technological classes in three industrial sectors (Chemicals, Electronics and Machinery). It shows that ITS is significantly persistent and is affected by the direction of cross-sectoral knowledge spillovers within countries. In addition, the paper shows that the concentration of innovative activities, the emergence of new innovators and technological co-operation positively affect ITS. Some differences across sectors emerge.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CESPRI, Universitá L .Bocconi, Via Sarfatti 25, 20136, Milan, Italy

    Franco Malerba & Fabio Montobbio

  2. Department of Economics, Universitá degli Studi dell'Insubria, Via Ravasi 2, 21100, Varese, Italy

    Fabio Montobbio

Authors
  1. Franco Malerba
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  2. Fabio Montobbio
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franco Malerba.

Additional information

JEL Classification:

O30, L10

We are grateful to Giorgio Rivero and Dieter Urban for valuable research assistance. We are indebted to Paul Geroski, Stefano Breschi, the participants to the Eighth International Schumpeter Conference (Manchester, 2000) and two anonymous referees and the editors of this Journal for their insightful suggestions. Citations data were provided to us by Bart Verspagen. The usual disclaimer applies. This paper originally developed as part of the Research Project: Sectoral Systems in Europe - Innovation, Competitiveness and Growth (ESSY), Third Research and Technological Framework Programme, Targeted Socio-Economic Research, TSER [Contract no: SOE1-CT 98-1116 (DG 12-SOLS)]. It has also benefited from The Short-term Mobility Program by Italian CNR (Prot. 031883) and from the coordinated Projects of Italian CNR.

Correspondence to: F. Malerba

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Malerba, F., Montobbio, F. Exploring factors affecting international technological specialization: the role of knowledge flows and the structure of innovative activity. J. Evol. Econ. 13, 411–434 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-003-0162-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00191-003-0162-z

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