The evolution of R&D networks
Lorenzo Zirulia, Department of Economics, Bocconi University, Italy
This paper models the formation of R&D networks in an oligopolistic industry. It is assumed that firms are heterogeneous from the technological point of view, and they enter collaborative agreements in order to exploit complementarities and consequently innovate. Network structure has feedbacks on firms’ technological specialization: then, technological capabilities and R&D network coevolve over time.
The aim of the paper is to map the technological characteristics of the industry into the network structure and to look at the dynamics of this relation over time; to study the effects of R&D networks on industry evolution; to link firms’ position in the network to their performance.
Date: 09 December-00 0000
