Abstract
On the basis of data from two recent surveys on innovation diffusion in Italian manufacturing industry, this paper shows that informal R&D is an important part of the total R&D undertaken by small and medium sized firms. Nevertheless, when an output indicator such as the number and the nature of the innovations introduced by firms of different size is used, it emerges that small firms have introduced mainly incremental rather than major innovations. The paper therefore suggests that systematic R&D undertaken by large firms within structured laboratories is more effective (in terms of product innovations) than occasional R&D carried out by small firms.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
AcsZ. J. and D. B.Audretsch, 1988, ‘Innovation and Large and Small Firms: An Empirical Analysis’, American Economic Review 78(4), 678–690.
ArchibugiD., S.Cesaratto, and G.Sirilli, 1987, ‘Attività innovativa, R&S e brevetti: Un'analisi dei risultati dell'indagine CNR-ISTAT sulla diffusione dell'innovazione’, L'Industria VIII(4), 497–514.
Cesaratto, S., S. Mangano, and G. Sirilli, 1988, Some Results of the Survey on Technological Innovation in Italian Industry, Paris, OECD, Group of National Experts on Science and Technology Indicators, Room Document No. 10.
FreemanC., 1982, The Economics of Industrial Innovation, Cambridge, MA, MIT Press.
ISTAT-CNR, 1987, Indagine sulla diffusione dell'innovazione tecnologica nella industria manifatturiera italiana, Rome.
ISTAT-CNR, 1988, Indagine statistica sull'innovazione tecnologica nell'industria italiana, Rome.
KleinknechtA., 1987, ‘Measuring R&D in Small Firms: How Much Are We Missing?’, Journal of Industrial Economics 36(2), 253–256.
KleinknechtA., 1989, ‘Firm Size and Innovation: Observations in Dutch Manufacturing Industry’, Small Business Economics 1(3), 215–222.
PavittK., 1982, ‘R&D, Patenting and Innovative Activity: A Statistical Exploration’, Research Policy 11(1), 33–51.
PavittK., 1984, ‘Sectoral Patterns of Technical Change: Towards a Taxonomy and a Theory’, Research Policy 13(6), 343–373.
SantarelliE., and A.Sterlacchini, 1989, ‘Patterns regionali di innovazione tecnologica in Italia: R&S, brevetti sull'estero, imprese innovative’, L'Industria X(1), 25–56.
SpiegelR. M., 1975, Probability and Statistics, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Santarelli, E., Sterlacchini, A. Innovation, formal vs. informal R&D, and firm size: Some evidence from Italian manufacturing firms. Small Bus Econ 2, 223–228 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00389530
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00389530