Is the Creation and Development of Biotech SMEs Localised? Conclusions Drawn from the French Case

The article examines the localisation effects within biotechnology, concentrating in particular on the French case. The paper has two strands of analysis. The first presents a detailed statistical survey of the French biotechnology sector. Among other things, the survey shows that a) localisation effects within France are strong, b) in terms of dependence on local cluster infrastructures (especially universities and related public research institutes), most firms progress from an entry stage in which they are very dependent on local cluster infrastructures, to a mature phase in which their networks become more national/international in focus and c) French firms can be grouped into four general types of firms, ranging from "type 1" growth oriented product firms, to "type 2" niche market players, "type 3" subsidiaries of larger firms, and "type 4" firms that have been acquired. Localisation effects differ across these firms, esp. across type 1 (international) and type 2 (very localised) firms. The second strand of analysis consists of a review of the localisation and related cluster literature, with implications drawn out for localisation and knowledge spillovers within biotech clusters. It examines the relative effects of scientific centres proximity and compares them to the public policy of start-up creation.     

Functional and contextual dimensions of INVs’ alliance partner selection

Prior research on the selection of international alliance partners calls for investigation of the potential specificity of selection criteria for evaluating partners for alliances with different objectives or functions. The present study responds to this need and contributes to the development of the field of international entrepreneurship by examining the relation between the alliance function and the criteria chosen. We studied three alliance functions: R&D, production, and marketing. Second, for each alliance function, we analyzed the criteria selected within two contexts: developing countries and those that consider emerging markets in their partner choice set. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 25 executives from international new ventures (INVs) in two major North American biotechnology clusters, representing 239 alliances; 65.7 % of these were signed with international partners. Results indicate that, aside from compatibility/complementarity of resources (R&D and production alliances), all criteria used within a single function are unique to that function. Furthermore, these criteria differ somewhat when the potential partners considered by a firm include those from both emerging and developed markets, compared with firms that limit potential partners to those in developed market contexts. Finally, the study reveals that respondent firms integrate country, industry, and market attractiveness factors with partner selection criteria for marketing alliances. This suggests that, for many firms, market choice and partner selection are not successive steps. The study’s originality lies in its focus on the relationship between alliance function and partner selection criteria used by INVs as well as within different contexts.     

Taking the rough with the smooth: A qualitative inquiry into social and cultural practices of knowledge-sharing work in international consultancy alliances

Knowledge sharing in inter-organizational alliances has been predominantly studied by investigating causal influencing factors in tightly-coupled alliances. In contrast, we empirically study how individuals accomplish knowledge sharing activities in the context of various social and cultural differences within a loosely-coupled international business-consultancy alliance. Through an in-depth qualitative case-study approach, we find that the local knowledge-seeking and -accessing partners socially and culturally deal with various influencing factors, through two broad sets of ‘knowledge-sharing work’. This includes harmonization development work, and disharmony mitigation work, that are both supported through an accompanying mode of work: auto-learning. These forms of work at the micro (individual and interactional) level, are enabled through modes of communicative interaction, not just strategic action. Further, this work mediates between the influencing factors and the knowledge sharing of the alliances in an iterative and recursive manner. Our findings thus contribute to showing how knowledge sharing is enacted in inter-organizational alliances, by highlighting the significance and dynamics of the micro-level social and cultural practices of knowledge-sharing work.     

Clustering Biotech: A Recipe for Success? Spatial Patterns of Growth of Biotechnology in Munich,Rhineland and Hamburg

The dynamic growth of biotechnology in Germany in recent years has an obviously spatial pattern. Some regions show a substantial potential for start-ups and young firms of this new industry whereas others lag behind. The paper is discussing this unequal spatial development elaborating perspectives which derive from recent debates about regional innovation systems. The biotech regions Munich and Rhineland, both winner regions of the BioRegio Competition are described and compared with the situation in Hamburg where biotechnology is much less important. We analyze the degree and relevance of locally integrated input-output relations of innovation systems based on typologies of the wide range of firms within the biotechnological value chain and the forms of co-operation. Moreover, a qualitative estimate is given with respect to the significance of untraded relationships and regional knowledge spillovers. Factors favoring local integration are compared with those favoring input-output systems on a transatlantic scale. The paper discusses the question whether the biotech industries in the regions of Munich, Rhineland and Hamburg represent identifiable regional systems of innovation.Our findings show that the spatial concentration does not necessarily imply a close network of input-output relations within a cluster. Knowledge and technology transfer often happens on a international, mostly on the North Atlantic scale. The exchange of tacit knowledge, however, is facilitated by spatial proximity. This underlines the importance of untraded relations and "relational assets" in a region. Political and institutional support for building a "business community" can reduce barriers to launch risky commercialization processes.     

Differences in values,practices, and systems among Hungarian managers and Western expatriates: an organizing framework and typology

For managers of international alliances, the reconciliation of conflicting values, practices, and systems (VPSs) among partners is a critical challenge, which is magnified when partners originate from diverse institutional environments, such as transition and established market economies. Given the rapidly growing prevalence of international alliances in transition economies, differences in VPSs surface when managerial methods introduced by Western companies clash with institutionalized legacies of central planning. This paper examines this process in the context of international cooperative ventures (ICVs) between Hungarian and Western partners. Using data collected from 17 ICVs, and 44 local and expatriate managers during 1997–1999, I test a series of hypotheses and inductively develop a typology that identifies a number of important and often problematic partner differences in managerial VPSs. The study uses multiple theoretical lenses to show how VPSs are variously shaped by institutional, economic, and cultural factors, and provides useful insights into typical challenges faced by ICV managers. I conclude with a discussion of the typology’s generalizability to other transition and emerging economies, its implications for theory and practice, and propose future research directions.     

International strategic alliances and national culture: Mapping the field and developing a research agenda

This study focuses on the role of national culture and cultural distance (NC/CD) in international strategic alliances features, management, and evolution. Our integrative literature review combines the results of a Multiple Correspondence Analysis with an in-depth reflection derived from the research team’s thorough study of the selected articles. The key trends within the field are identified and represented in a proximity map. The resulting four thematic regions are deeply analyzed in terms of content and dynamics. Additionally, the study identifies research gaps and proposes avenues for future research.     

Global versus Local Strategic Alliances

The authors present a framework within which to decide when a firm should choose a single global strategic alliance partner, when regional alliances are more appropriate, and when it should use multiple local partners. Strategic factors proposed as determining this choice refer to: (1)economies of scale; (2)competitive pressure; (3)market and environmental certainty; and (4)global coordination. Operational considerations that constrain the choice involve: (1)market restrictions; (2)resource availability; (3)fiduciary risk; and (4)adaptation needs. These two sets of factors interact to suggest the appropriate geographical scope of strategic alliances. Two case examples are evaluated within this framework; one dealing with a global strategic alliance, the other with local strategic alliances.     

Entrepreneurial Attitudes as Drivers of Managers’ Boundary‐Spanning Knowledge Ties in the Context of High‐Tech Clusters

This study investigates the role of entrepreneurial attitudes for small and medium‐sized enterprise managers' tendency to create knowledge acquisition ties with managers of other organizations in the context of an institutionalized high‐tech cluster. We examine how innovation orientation, perceived personal control, need for achievement, and self‐esteem influence boundary‐spanning tie creation as a crucial facet of entrepreneurial behavior in the cluster context. Applying exponential random graph models to survey data collected in a German biotech cluster, we find that innovation orientation and perceived personal control positively affect managers' tendency to rely on interpersonal ties to gather knowledge. In contrast, need for achievement and self‐esteem are negatively related to knowledge tie creation.     

Creation of Biotech SMEs in France

The paper examines the determinants of the creation of high tech SMEs at a regional level. Relations between the scientific and technical profile of a region, the size of the local market for biotech products and services, and economic development are explored in the French biotech industry during the 1990’s. Empirical analysis shows that a high level of scientific activity within a region is necessary to sustain a continuous flow of new business creation. The likelihood of firm creation depends on scientific and technological organizational factors like cooperation between academic and private organizations. Regional policies can have positive impact on firm creation, especially by promoting diversity and excellence in science. However, contrasting with the U.S. results, the size of the local market for biotech products and services matters in the industry development.     

在企业战略联盟中建立信任

在当今国际竞争背景下 ,战略联盟已经触及到了联盟参与者的核心竞争优势 ,随之而来的是公司与企业文化的深层次变化。企业联盟的成功涉及许多因素 ,信任是其中最重要的因素之一。所以在联盟的企业之间如何建立信任关系 ,如何在战略联盟中有效实施在管理者控制范围之内的信任管理机制尤为重要。     

中俄合作“伞”型新模式的现实支撑——哈牡绥东对俄贸易加工区的建设

中俄区域经济合作的＂伞＂型模式为中国东北振兴与俄罗斯东部地区开发之间的互动合作提供了崭新的思路,而新模式的实行离不开中俄双方共同的努力。哈牡绥东对俄贸易加工区的建设,无论从近期的优化资源配置,形成地方国际化产业集群,还是从远期的进一步加速生产要素聚集,实现东北亚区域内的互动合作,都为中方构建新模式提供了强有力的支撑。     

Strategic alliances in international distribution channels

Given the differing dynamics of managing a distribution channel system, can the extant research on international strategic alliances, which largely focuses on the manufacturer–supplier interface, be extended to the manufacturer–distribution channels context? Owing to the paucity of research on strategic alliances in international distribution channels, this investigation seeks to verify empirically the effects of learning orientation, relationship longevity, and relationship closeness as determinants of cooperation, which, in turn, is an antecedent of performance, and relationship satisfaction.The research hypotheses were tested empirically on data drawn from a sample of manufacturing firms located in the United States (U.S.), Finland, the People's Republic of China (P.R.C.), and Poland. Although some similarities for fostering cooperation in international distribution alliances were detected on a cross-national basis, disparate emphases on alliance management practices were observed as well.     

The Structures of Cooperation: Downscaling,Outsourcing and the Networked Alliance

This article explores interfirm cooperation and its relationship with downscaling, cooperative outsourcing, and the network structures of multiple firm alliances. Downscaling is defined and related to cooperative outsourcing, as major influences shaping interfirm relations. The advantages of embedding cooperative outsourcing in strategic alliances are then addressed, with special relevance to small and medium-size firms. Five types of network structures that may develop within alliances are considered, relating their main characteristics and internal division of labor to various aspects of interfirm cooperation, such as embeddedness, disparities, commitment and trust.     

Religion, Opportunism, and International Market Entry Via Non-Equity Alliances or Joint Ventures

One challenge that globalization has brought to business is that firms, as they expand their market globally through cross-border alliances, need to deal with partner firms from countries of different religious background. The impact of a country’s dominant religion on its firms’ international market entry mode choices has not been examined in traditional approaches. Focusing on hypothesizing the influence of Christian beliefs and atheism (i.e., the absence of belief in any deities), this research aims to fill the gap by exploring religion’s role in providing moral restraint on managers’ propensity for opportunism, which in turn affects these managers’ choices of their firms’ international market entry via non-equity alliances or joint ventures. A study of 22,156 cross-border alliances formed in 48 industries world-wide over 9 years provides new insight toward understanding religion’s influence on firms’ international market entry mode decisions through the ethical dimension of strategic leadership. This article would fit best under the International Management section for reviewing purposes.     

Economic geography and emerging market clusters: A co-evolutionary study of local and non-local networks in Bangalore

The presence of network ties within location plays a significant role in organization and evolution of clusters. This has proven to be particularly true for clusters specializing in knowledge intensive industries, where the organization of resources – people and technology – has been a primary driver for firm and regional performance. With the help of a longitudinal case study of the Bangalore IT cluster in India, we investigate the effect of local and non-local network ties on its evolution. We argue that networks – both local and non-local – play an important role in the development of cluster. We propose a non-linear relationship between cluster evolution phases and the type of network ties most prominent. Our study also outlines the role that embedding, expansion, and extension of ties plays in transitioning cluster from one phase to the other. The consideration of non-local ties is rather nascent in the cluster literature and promises to enhance the understanding of how clusters develop at both levels – policy as well as firm.     

Culture‐Led Discrepancies and Negotiating Conflicts in Strategic Outsourcing Alliances

Outsourcing and alliance collaboration have become prominent features of the global economy. Empirical studies demonstrate that outsourcing alliances are often not as successful as their initiators expect them to be. National cultural differences are frequently viewed as a crucial factor when such alliances fail. While empirical studies are abundant, theoretical frameworks that explicate the role of national cultural differences in shaping the dynamics of outsourcing alliances are rare. This article builds on Kumar and Nti's (1998) discrepancy model to specify how culture affects the dynamics of outsourcing alliances. We suggest that national cultural differences give rise to process and outcome discrepancies in outsourcing alliances. Notably, outsourcing alliances evolve through three stages–formation, operation and outcome–with discrepancies arising in each of these stages (Das & Teng, 2002). We develop a framework to link discrepancy management to these different stages, and to the notions of task‐oriented and relationship‐oriented cultures. Our study has a number of implications for future research and managerial practice. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Deadlock in corporate governance: Finding a common strategy for private telephone companies, 1978–1998

This paper looks at how a group of small, incumbent private telephone companies complied with the international convergence of market structures. The existing research has mainly focused on large national incumbents, assuming a transition to multinational enterprise. This development process is often associated with privatisation policies and various institutional factors. The article tests these assumptions using a case study of the network of Finnish local telephone companies. It looks at the development of an interfirm network, its perspectives on the different phases of the deregulation process, and how the network tried to regenerate itself but failed to form a unified corporate structure capable of mounting a common business strategy. The reason for this failure resembles the idea of governance inseparability: private telecom companies were committed to the objectives and form of a tried and trusted cooperation model, which no longer met the requirements of the competitive and increasingly liberalised business environment of the 1990s. This case demonstrates that the significance of both corporate governance and organisational development are, above all, related to the firm’s ability to regenerate itself.     

Mutual commitment and experiential knowledge in mature international business relationship

This paper examines how market knowledge and market commitment are developed in mature supplier/customer relationships in international markets. It reports the empirical testing of a model of increasing commitment and experiential knowledge development in international business relationships. The assumption is that the connected relationships in a business network are the basis for forming a relationship and it will influence how the focal relationship develops. The model shows the process when a supplier increases his or her knowledge of the business network that a foreign customer is embedded in and what happens as their relationship with the customer becomes mature, stable and profitable. In this situation the firm does not invest as much as it did early on in the relationship but diverts its attention to firms that are more embedded in the local business network context. The model thus explicates a process of transition as a firm moves from one mature relationship to create new relationships as it increases its foreign market involvement.     

Entrepreneurial alliances as contractual forms

Advancing upon taxonomical research on interfirm alliances, we investigate the design of entrepreneurial firms' alliances in more fine-grained terms by focusing on the specific contractual provisions that firms negotiate into their alliance contracts. Drawing upon transaction cost arguments, we examine the determinants of the contractual complexity of collaborative agreements in the German telecommunications industry. The findings reveal that alliance contracts vary greatly in their complexity, yet contracts for non-equity alliances tend to be no more or less complex than those for equity alliances on average. Furthermore, multivariate findings on the roles of transaction-specific investment, relational capital, search costs, and so forth demonstrate that firms' contractual and governance choices have distinct antecedents.