Firm Strategies in R&D: Cooperation and Participation in R&D Programs

Abstract

This paper presents empirical evidence on firms' decisions to cooperate in R&D and the extent to which government sponsored R&D programs increase cooperation. Using a sample of firms from the Spanish innovation survey we jointly estimate the determinants of firm participation in R&D programs and of choice of cooperation partners. We find that (i) firms participating in national and European programs have different profiles, suggesting program complementarity; (ii) private-private and public-private cooperation are associated on average with firms with different characteristics, and (iii) national R&D programs seem to have a positive effect on all types of cooperation, but especially on public-private partnerships.

Keywords: R&D, vertical cooperation, public-private partnerships, innovation

JEL Classification: O31, O38, H32, C25