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Technology Transfer in a Global Economy pp 143–160Cite as

The Impact of Technological Acquisitions on Innovation Quality

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Part of the book series: International Studies in Entrepreneurship ((ISEN,volume 28))

Abstract

In recent years M&A has been as a prominent strategy in the context of inter-firm technology transfer. Prior literature has evaluated the latter by using different types of post-merger innovation measurements. In this connection the chapter provides a framework to analyze the effects of corporate acquisitions on innovation quality. The approach presumes that an acquirer’s post-merger innovation outcome is a function of learning capabilities with respect to recent technologies.

We investigate a sample of German domestic and cross-border takeovers, in order to analyze the ex-ante determinants of post-merger innovation quality. The data is based on patent information from the German Patent and Trade Mark Office.

The results show that especially middle-aged and specialized acquirers achieve improved innovation quality subsequent to takeovers. Furthermore, the measurement via patent citations allows a more direct consideration of the value created by corporate acquisitions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Economic Policy, Ludwig Erhard Chair, Ulm University, Helmholtzstr. 20, Ulm, 89081, Germany

    Philipp Buss

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  1. Philipp Buss
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Correspondence to Philipp Buss .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Institute of Development Strategies, Indiana University, East 10th Street 1315, Bloomington, 47405, Indiana, USA

    David B. Audretsch

  2. , Department of Management & Organization, University of Augsburg, Universitaetsstr. 16, Augsburg, 86159, Germany

    Erik E. Lehmann

  3. , Department of Economics, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, 27402, North Carolina, USA

    Albert N. Link

  4. , Department of Business Administration, University of Augsburg, Universitaetsstr. 16, Augsburg, 86159, Germany

    Alexander Starnecker

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Buss, P. (2012). The Impact of Technological Acquisitions on Innovation Quality. In: Audretsch, D., Lehmann, E., Link, A., Starnecker, A. (eds) Technology Transfer in a Global Economy. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 28. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-6102-9_9

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