Technological innovation typologies and open innovation in SMEs: Beyond internal and external sources of knowledge

SME inbound open innovation has primarily received attention for new product development, overlooking the fact that SMEs may also pursue process or, simultaneously, product and process innovation. We posit that different technological innovation typologies (product vs process) are related to distinct search strategies. Focusing on 3,867 innovative SMEs, results indicate that inbound open innovation is not only related to internal resources of innovation but also to the type of technological innovation chosen by firms. Our results disentangle a rather more complex and comprehensive view of SME inbound open innovation that prevents the fragmentation of results. It is not just about being more or less innovative, but about how SMEs innovate differently, developing distinct internal and external activities.

Automated summary

The research findings suggest that for SMEs, inbound open innovation is not only related to internal innovation resources, but also to the type of technological innovation chosen by the firms, presenting a more complex and comprehensive view of innovation.