Innovation and Knowledge Creation in an Open Economy
Canadian Industry and International Implications

This book shows how manufacturers bring new, improved products and production processes to market.

John R. Baldwin (Author), Petr Hanel (Author)

9780521037136, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 24 May 2007

544 pages, 27 b/w illus. 160 tables
22.9 x 15.3 x 3.2 cm, 0.813 kg

'… a specific and very thorough as well as comprehensive analysis of the innovation process in Canadian manufacturing. … The study is of vital importance for those who do empirical studies in this field in order to compare the methodological approaches and results. In addition, the study can also lead to inspirations for new theories in innovation economics, since the results presented in the book urgently show that some theories have to be reassessed or even modified.' Economic Systems Research

This study of innovation - its intensity, the sources used for knowledge creation, and its impacts - is based on a comprehensive survey of innovation of Canadian manufacturing firms. Attention is paid to the different actors in the system, who both compete with and complement one another. The study investigates how innovation regimes differ across size of firm and across industries. Owing to the high degree of foreign investment in Canada, special attention is paid to the performance of foreign-owned firms. The innovation regime of Canadian innovators is compared with results of studies of other industrialized countries. The picture of a typical innovator is a firm that combines internal resources and external contacts to develop a set of complementary strategies. The study finds that innovating firms depend not only on R&D, but also on ideas and technology from various other sources, both internal and external to the firm.

List of tables and figures
Acknowledgements
1. The economics of knowledge creation
2. The innovation survey
3. Patterns of innovation: intensity and types
4. Sources of innovations
5. Research and development and innovation
6. Effects of innovation
7. Innovation and research and development in small and large firms
8. Innovation regimes and type of innovation
9. The use of intellectual property rights
10. Multinationals and the Canadian innovation process
11. Financing and the cost of innovation
12. The diffusion of innovation
13. Strategic capabilities in innovative businesses
14. Determinants of innovation
15. Summary
Appendices
References
Index.

Subject Areas: International business [KJK], Business strategy [KJC], International economics [KCL], Economics [KC]