Science Research Management

Science Research Management ›› 2021, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (7): 77-90.

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The double-edged sword effect of cross-domain search on generic technology spillover: The amplifying effect of industrial alliances

Cen Jie1,2, Ye Erzi1， Xiao Yao1,2   

  1. 1. School of Business Administration, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China; 
    2. Zheshang Research Institute, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, Zhejiang, China
  • Received:2020-08-12 Revised:2021-01-05 Online:2021-07-20 Published:2021-07-19

Abstract:     In the context of collaborative innovation, multi-agent participation and multi-knowledge integration have become the mainstream paradigm of generic technology R&D and spillover. Cross-domain search is essentially dependent on spillover from multiple knowledge sources, which implies that cross-domain search is necessarily associated with generic technology spillover, but this relationship is masked by the "subject view" of generic technology collaborative R&D paradigm. A large number of scholars have paid attention to the problem of "how to promote the spillover of generic technology" and examined the impact of the commercialization strategy, mode selection, network effect and stage characteristics of generic technology diffusion on the spillover of generic technology. Many achievements have been made, but the problem of "how generic technology spillover occurs" has not been answered. The existing research on generic technology spillover from the perspective of government procurement, patent licensing, research institutions and industry-university-research has implied the value of cross-domain search, but failed to directly explore the direct relationship between cross-domain search and generic technology spillover, and failed to reveal the double-edged sword effect of cross-domain search.
    Starting from the "search behavior", this paper focuses on "how generic technology spillover occurs", trying to answer the question on "how knowledge search behavior affects generic technology spillover", and further examines the role of industrial alliance characteristics. Based on this, this paper constructs 373 enterprises′ patent data samples and 190 enterprises′ alliance data samples. Through patent analysis, text analysis and empirical research, it is found that cross-domain search has a double-edged sword effect on generic technology spillover, and the characteristics of industrial alliance play a magnifying role in the relationship between the two. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between cross-domain search and the depth of generic technology spillover; (2) There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between cross-domain search and the breadth of generic technology spillover ; (3) The number of industrial alliances has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between cross-domain search — generic technology spillover depth and cross-domain search — generic technology spillover breadth; (4) The heterogeneity of industrial alliances has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between cross-domain search — generic technology spillover depth and cross-domain search — generic technology spillover breadth.
     This paper attempts to answer the question of "how generic technology spillover occurs", extends the antecedents of generic technology spillover, and further enriches the research results in the field of generic technology spillover. At the same time, this paper also puts forward some management implications. First, cross-domain search is an important means for enterprises to develop generic technology, and the research and development of generic technology is the pre-content of R & D proprietary technology. Enterprises should formulate reasonable cross-domain search strategies based on R & D needs and strategic objectives, and grasp the distance of cross-domain search. Second, in a reasonable cross-domain search strategy, enterprises should be good at using alliance strength, accelerate the realization of R & D goals; Third, this paper demonstrates the important role of enterprises and industrial alliances in the spillover of generic technology. Therefore, the government should actively guide and support them, seize the wave of the fourth scientific and technological revolution, boost the breakthrough of industrial key generic technology, and accelerate the transformation of the role from technology catcher to technology leader.

Key words: cross-domain search, industry alliance, generic technology spillover, double-edged sword effect