Template-type: ReDif-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Belderbos,R.
Author-Name: Iwasa,T.
Author-workplace-name: NIBOR 
Title: Research and Development in Foreign Affiliates: Evidence from Japanese Firms
Abstract: This paper analyzes the determinants of the R&D intensity of 434 foreign affiliates, drawing on MITI''s benchmark survey of Japanese multinational firms in 1993. Acquired affiliates are responsible for more than half of overseas R&D expenditure and have significantly higher R&D intensities than wholly and majority owned greenfield affiliates. Non-majority owned joint ventures are R&D intensive in case the investing firm lacks substantial R&D capabilities in Japan. In contrast, R&D intensive Japanese parent firms prefer controlled modes of overseas R&D investment. Support is also found for an incremental growth pattern of foreign R&D operations as a function of cumulative learning. This learning is affiliate-specific rather than firm-wide and applies to greenfield affiliates but not to acquired affiliates. The results provide evidence that Japanese multinational firms, as ‘latecomers’ in the establishment of overseas R&D networks, have often made use of acquisitions and collaborative ventures to gain access to overseas technology and to establish overseas R&D capabilities at a faster pace. 
Keywords: research and development ; 
Series: Research Memoranda
Creation-Date: 1999
Number: 005
File-URL: http://edocs.ub.unimaas.nl/loader/file.asp?id=282
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 223771
Handle: RePEc:unm:umanib:1999005