Configurations of inter-organizational knowledge links : does spatial embeddedness still matter?

Abstract

The actor composition of inter-organizational ego-networks is largely ignored in research on territorial innovation models. To fill this gap, this paper explores with which sets of external actors (that is, configurations) firms maintain inter-organizational knowledge links. Subsequently, it analyses the differences in innovative performance between firms engaged in different configurations, also taking into account their geographical dimensions. Four configurations emerged, all of which have positive effects on a firm’s innovative performance in comparison with the ‘go-at-it-alone’ strategy. After controlling for actor composition and tie depth, however, their geographical composition is found to be unrelated to the innovative performance of firms.