Portfolios of Interfirm Agreements in Technology-Intensive Markets: Consequences for Innovation and Profitability

Abstract

Despite the high relevance of firms’ portfolios of upstream interfirm agreements in technology-intensive markets, little is known about their impact on innovative success. The authors develop a conceptual framework that explains the consequences of different portfolio descriptors for radical innovation, incremental innovation, and profitability. An empirical test in the pharmaceutical industry shows strong support for the developed theory.