The role of R&D collaborations in emerging science-based industries

This thesis explores the role of research and development (R&D) collaborations in fostering innovation within emerging industries, with a particular focus on their impact on the creation of publications, patents, and products. By integrating insights from Open Innovation (OI), Technological Innovation Systems (TIS), and General-Purpose Technology (GPT) evolution, the research provides a comprehensive analysis of collaboration dynamics and strategic innovation management. The first part of the thesis examines the ICT sector among Swedish SMEs, investigating how collaborations influence innovation persistence. The findings highlight that while R&D collaborations enhance continuity, the nature of partnerships—whether exploratory or exploitative—plays a decisive role. Collaborations with universities and large firms foster interactive learning, but their effectiveness hinges on SMEs’ ability to manage knowledge flows. This research contributes to OI literature by emphasizing the overlooked interaction between the size and type of R&D partners, showing that exploitative collaborations with universities can overcome cognitive barriers and strengthen innovation pathways. The second part of the thesis shifts focus to an emerging General-Purpose Technology (GPT), Wearable Haptic Technology (WHT), analyzing its development through collaborations in publications and patents. The study establishes WHT as a GPT by demonstrating its general applicability, technological dynamism, and innovation complementarities. It extends GPT literature by comparing WHT with established GPTs such as ICT and AI, while also introducing novel methods for identifying GPT characteristics. Using the TIS framework, the research illustrates the distinct roles of universities and firms: universities drive fundamental knowledge creation through publications, whereas firms dominate patenting and commercialization. Furthermore, the study highlights the mobility of researchers, showing how academic engagement in business activities fosters knowledge transfer and technological experimentation. In the final section, the focus shifts from collaborations to search strategies, analyzing how WHT patents influence subsequent innovations. The findings reveal that inventions incorporating novel background knowledge are more likely to generate follow-ups, while those introducing entirely new technological domains face higher risks of non-adoption. This research underscores the role of organizational search strategies in shaping GPT evolution, demonstrating that technological trajectories emerge from interdependent ecosystem dynamics rather than isolated firm-level decisions. Synthesizing these insights, the thesis proposes a conceptual framework illustrating how firms in emerging industries navigate uncertainty by balancing exploitation, exploration, and collaboration. The study offers practical implications for managers and policymakers, emphasizing the importance of targeted R&D partnerships, institutional support for knowledge transfer, and strategic innovation management. By bridging SME innovation persistence, TIS frameworks, and GPT evolution, this research advances our understanding of collaboration-driven technological development and lays the groundwork for future investigations into innovation ecosystems.