Technology flows across firms and nations: An assessment of the biotechnology industry

Abstract

This paper seeks to extend our understanding of the dynamics of international diffusion of technology across firms and nations. This involves both geographical and organisational form considerations. The biotechnology industry is utilized as a vehicle both to ground and contextualize the theoretical arguments as well as to explore the relative utility of two prominent theoretical perspectives, one emphasizing transaction costs and the other emphasizing firm capabilities. An examination of the empirical profile appears to support the dynamic capabilities perspective.