Technology alliances in emerging economies: Persistence and interrelation in European firms' alliance formation
René Belderbos, Victor Gilsing & Jojo Jacob
#2011-026
We analyze patterns and determinants of technology alliance formation
with partner firms from emerging economies, with a focus on European
firms' alliance strategies. We examine to what extent European firms'
alliance formation with partners based in emerging economies is
persistent, that is: to what extent prior collaborative experience
determines new alliance formation, and we compare this pattern with
alliance formation with developed country partners. Second, we examine
to what extent prior engagement in international alliances with partners
from developed countries increases the propensity to form technology
alliances with partners based in emerging economies and vice versa
(interrelation). We find that both persistence and interrelation effects
are present, and that they are generally not weaker for emerging economy
alliances. Alliance formation with Indian and Chinese firms is
significantly more likely if firms have prior alliance experience with
Japanese firms. The findings suggest that firms extend their alliance
portfolio from developed to emerging economies, increasing the
geographic diversity of their alliance portfolio and building on their
prior international alliances experience.
JEL codes: M21, O32, O33, O52, O53
Keywords: Alliances, Persistence, Interrelation, Emerging economies