Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-gq7q9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-16T12:02:14.309Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Internationalisation of German Companies' R&D

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 March 2020

John Cantwell  and
Rebecca Harding
John Cantwell
Affiliation:
University of Reading and University of Brighton
Rebecca Harding
Affiliation:
University of Reading and University of Brighton
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Research and development in the German economy is internationalising: recently there has been an increase in outward DFI by German companies relative to the inward DFI of foreign-owned companies in Germany. By examining the long term trends in patents granted in the USA to the world's largest firms between 1969 and 1995, it emerges that Germany is now catching-up with a world-wide trend to internationalise technological activaty, and has done this on the basis of its core technological strengths developed historically at a national and corporate level. The research and innovation infrastructure of the economy remains strong, and German companies are locating abroad in the industries which are the most science-based, which are supportive of domestically-based core technologies and in which they hold the strongest competitive position relative to other European firms. German-owned companies retain their dominance of German-located R & D in five key industries—electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, metals and motor vehicles—and they have developed technological specialisms clearly focused on the core technologies of these industries, at home and now also abroad.

Type
Articles
Information
National Institute Economic Review , Volume 163 , January 1998 , pp. 99 - 115
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 National Institute of Economic and Social Research

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Agarwal, J.P. (1997), ‘European integration and German foreign direct investment: implications for domestic investment and central European economies’, National Institute Economic Review 2/97, no. 160, April pp. 100–111.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barrell, R., and, N. PainHubert, F. (1996), ‘Regionalism and the location of German direct investment’, National Institute Discussion Paper no. 92, NIESR, London.Google Scholar
Barrell, R. and Pain, N. (1997), ‘The growth of foreign direct investment in Europe’, National Institute Economic Review, 2/97, no. 160, April, pp. 63–75.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bertsch, F. (1997), ‘Wie gut is der Wirtshcaftsstandord Deutschland? Die Globalisierung verschärft den Wettbewerb’, Internationes, Basis-Info (Wirtschaft) 3–97, no. 770Q8415, IN-Press, Bonn.Google Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. (1991), ‘Historical trends in international patterns of technological innovation’, in Foreman-Peck, J. (Ed.), New Perspectives on the Late Victorian Economy: Essays in Quantitative British Economic History, 1860-1914, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. (1992), ‘The internationalisation of technological activity and its implications for competitiveness’, in Granstrand, O., Håkanson, L. and Sjölander, S. (Eds.), Technology Management and International Business: Internationalisation of R & D and Technology, Chichester: John Wiley.Google Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. (1993), ‘Corporate technological specialisation in international industries’, in Casson, M.C. and Creedy, J. (Eds.), Economic Inequality and Industrial Concentration, Aldershot: Edward Elgar.Google Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. (1995a), ‘The globalisation of technology: what remains of the product cycle model?’, Cambridge Journal of Economics, vol. 19, no. 1, February, pp. 155–174.Google Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. (1995b), ‘Innovation in a global world’, New Economy, vol. 2, no.2, pp. 66–70.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. and Andersen, H.B. (1996), ‘A statistical analysis of corporate technological leadership historically’, Economics of Innovation and New Technology, vol. 4, pp. 211–234.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. and Hodson, C. (1991), ‘Global R & D and UK competitiveness’, in Casson, M.C. (Ed.), Global Research Strategy and International Competitiveness, Oxford: Basil Blackwell.Google Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. and Harding, R. (1997), ‘The internationalisation of German companies' R&D’, University of Reading Discussion papers in International Investment and Management no. 233, September, Series B vol. X.Google Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. and Janne, O. (1997), ‘The internationalisation of technological activity: the Dutch case’ University of Reading Discussion papers in International Investment and Management no. 234, September, Series B vol. X.Google Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. and Kotecha, U. (1997), ‘The internationalisation of technological activity: the French evidence in a comparative setting’, in Howells, J. and Michie, J. (eds), Technology, Innovation and Competitiveness, Cheltenham : Edward Elgar.Google Scholar
Cantwell, J.A. and Piscitello, L. (1997), ‘Accumulating technological competence - its changing impact on corporate diversification and internationalisation’, University of Reading, Discussion Paper in International Investment and Management no. 232, June Series B, vol. X.Google Scholar
Carlin, W. and Soskice, D. (1997), ‘Shocks to the system: the German political economy under stress.’ National Institute Economic Review, 1/97 pp. 55–76, no. 159, January.Google Scholar
Deutsche Bundesbank (1997), Monthly Report, August 1997, vol. 49, no. 8 Frankfurt -am-Main.Google Scholar
Dodgson, M. (1991), ‘Technology strategy and learning: the case of Celltech’, mimeo SPRU, University of Sussex.Google Scholar
Dunning, J.H. and Pearce, R.D. (1985), The World's Largest Industrial Enterprises, 1962-1983, Farnborough: Gower.Google Scholar
Foray, D. and Freeman, C. (eds. 1993), ‘Technology and the Wealth of Nations: The Dynamics of Constructed Advantage’, London, Pinter.Google Scholar
Freeman, C. (1982), ‘The economics of industrial innovation’, London, Pinter Publishers.Google Scholar
Freeman, C. (1995), ‘The ‘National System of Innovation’ in historical perspective’, Cambridge Journal of Economics, 19(February), pp. 4–24.Google Scholar
Harding, R. (1995), Technology and Human Resources in their National Context: A Study in Strategic Contrasts, Aldershot, Avebury.Google Scholar
Harding, R. (1996), ‘Implementing strategic change: A Study of British and German Workers’, Technovation.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Internationes (1996), ‘Technologische Forschung und Entwicklung in Deutschland: Stand und Perspektiven’, Bonn, Internationes, IN-Press.Google Scholar
Jungnickel, R. (1995), ‘Foreign direct investment, trade and employment: the experience of Germany’, in Foreign Direct Investment, Trade and Employment OECD, Paris.Google Scholar
Lamming, R. (1989), ‘The causes and effects of structural change in the European automative components industry’, International Motor Vehicle Programme, Acapulco, Mexico, May.Google Scholar
Lundvall, B.Å., Ed. (1992), National Systems of Innovation: Towards a theory of Innovation and Interactive Learning. London, Pinter Publishers.Google Scholar
Marsh, D. (1996), ‘The German economy at the end of the century’ in German Politics, December 1996.Google Scholar
Pain, N. and Lansbury, M. (1997), ‘Regional economic integration and direct foreign investment: the case of German investment in Europe’, National Institute Economic Review 2/97 no.160, April pp. 87–99.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Papadakis, M. (1995), ‘The delicate task of linking industrial R&D to national competitiveness’, Technovation vol. 15, no. 9, pp.569–583.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Patel, P., and Pavitt, K.L.R. (1989), ‘A comparison of technological activities in West Germany and Britain.’ National Westminster Bank Quarterly Review, August issue, National Westminster Bank, London.Google Scholar
Patel, P. and Pavitt, K.L.R. (1991), ‘Large firms in the production of the world's technology: an important case of non-globalisation’, Journal of International Business Studies, vol. 22, pp. 1–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pavitt, K.L.R. (1984), ‘Sectoral patterns of technical change: towards a taxonomy and a theory.’ Research Policy (13), North Holland, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Pavitt, K.L.R. (1991), ‘Key characteristics of the large innovating firm’, British Journal of Management, vol. 2, pp. 41–50.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Porter, M.E. (1990), The Competitive Advantage of Nations. Macmillan, London.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Prais, S.J. (1981), Productivity and Industrial Structure: A Statistical Study of Manufacturing in Britain, Germany and the US, NIESR Occasional Paper no. 33, Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Shin, J.S. (1996), The Economics of the Latecomers: Catching up, technology transfer and institutions in Germany, Japan and South Korea Routledge, LondonGoogle Scholar
Walsh, V. (1995), Globalisation of Industrial Activity. Paper presented at the Conference on Globalisation of Technology, Robinson College, Cambridge, June.Google Scholar