What’s stopping enterprises from research and innovation?: empirical cases of four innovative companies

Abstract

Research and innovation are recognised as important contributors to enterprises’ competitive advantages but can be costly and risky, particularly for innovative tech companies. Increasing attention and support from key stakeholders in the emerging markets including the policy makers have been provided in the hope to address their lagged position. In the context of China, various direct incentives and other measures are given to support innovative companies in the private sector. However, despite the considerable amount of monetary and policy incentives come in various forms, the willingness to conduct fundamental research and innovations in the private sector appears to be very limited, and hence their success. The extant studies focus more excessively on either external factors (e.g., policy and regulation) or internal factors (e.g., governance).
In this exploratory study, we selected four case innovative enterprises from different industries in the same region and collected qualitative data via focus group and semi-structured interviews, supplemented by archives, observation and reports. From an institutional perspective, we examined the voids and challenges facing research and innovation as a result of combined external and internal conditions at different levels. With empirical findings, we claim that top-down governmental pressures and incentives fail to work due to misaligned logics, and that those ‘good intentions’ are often de facto blockers, which damage trust and co-operation among the actors involved. Supported by Austrian thoughts, policy and managerial recommendations are proposed.

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ORCID for Hao Dong: orcid.org/0000-0002-3458-4986

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