Inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D project networks: A multiple case study
通过芬兰公共资助研发项目的多案例研究，分析了社会资本在企业间知识转移中的作用，识别了限制因素和动机影响，发现企业虽公开分享成果但获益有限，为创新政策制定者和项目协调者提供了实践启示。
Inter-organizational knowledge transfer is widely considered to be an important source of competitiveness in the extant literature and by innovation policymakers. This paper reports on a study that investigated inter-firm knowledge transfer in research and development (R&D) projects that received public funding. All projects took place in Finland and included university and/or research institute member(s). Based on multiple case studies, the significance of social capital in knowledge transfer was analyzed. Aspects that limited the knowledge transfer were identified and the effects of motivation on collaboration were evaluated. In certain cases, the knowledge transfer between firms was minimal and existed only in formal meetings. Surprisingly, the firms shared their R&D results openly with other network members, but this was not considered particularly beneficial. The knowledge transfer was limited by changes in consortiums, changes in project duration and/or budget, differences in R&D interests, insufficient resources, and ability to achieve R&D goal(s) without collaboration. In cases with active collaboration, several features of social capital in combination with complimentary business goals were perceived as facilitators of knowledge transfer. Based on the results, practical implications for innovation policymakers and project coordinators, and directions for future research, are proposed.