KNOWLEDGE NETWORKS AND INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCE: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF UNIVERSITIES IN COLOMBIAN CONGLOMERATES
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37135/kai.03.16.01Keywords:
Innovation, clusters, university-business cooperation, knowledge networks, ColombiaAbstract
This study examines how cooperation with universities and research centers mediates the relationship between cluster membership and innovative performance in Colombian companies in the manufacturing and service sectors. It argues that universities act as catalysts for knowledge, strengthening firms' capacity to generate innovations. Using an empirical model that combines probit and logit analysis for binary variables and Poisson and Zero-inflated Poisson analysis for counts, three main hypotheses are evaluated: that companies in clusters that cooperate with universities are more innovative; that such cooperation has a mediating effect; and that this effect is more pronounced in services than in manufacturing. The expected results seek to provide evidence on the importance of academic networks in strengthening business innovation, as well as to guide policies and strategies for university-business coordination in the Colombian context.
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