Firms' linkages with public research organizations in Argentina: drivers, perceptions and behaviors from a firm perspective

ARZA, VALERIA & LÓPEZ, ANDRÉS

Belo Horizonte

Workshop; SEMINÁRIO DESAFIOS DA INTERAÇÃO UNIVERSIDADE-EMPRESA NA AMÉRICA LATINA E NO BRASIL; 2009

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais

This paper analyzes firms´ drivers for linking to public research organizations (PRO) (1stgoal) and compares perceptions and behaviors of linked vs. unlinked firms (2nd goal). We used an original firm database constructed from a representative survey with information for linked andunlinked firms for year 2005. Drivers were estimated using a Probit model, while differences inperceptions and behaviors between linked and unlinked firms were assessed with propensity score matching techniques. We found, in relation to our 1st goal: i) the poorer the knowledge bases the more likely small firms link to PRO; and, ii) PRO work as substitutes of the market when firms seek for information; and in relation to our 2nd goal: i) linked firms invest more in innovative activities; ii) they are more prone to patenting; iii) both groups of firms value similarly PRO research outputs available at arm length.