Do alliances promote knowledge flows?

Abstract

Our research examines the effect of the compositional quality of firms’ direct and indirect network ties on their innovation performance in a licensing context. It addresses the theoretical and empirical puzzle of why firms that exhibit quite similar patterns in their direct and indirect ties with other firms may nonetheless exhibit heterogeneous innovation performance outcomes. Using licensing and patenting data of firms operating in the semiconductor industry, we find that the compositional quality of both direct and indirect ties, based on their relevant technological characteristics positively affect the innovation performance of firms (licensees). Moreover, combining the compositional quality of direct and indirect ties has a complementary, rather than a substitution effect on firms’ innovation performance.