Innovative Scope in Biotech Business: Effects of Aligning Partner Types with the Firm's Science Base

Using extensive patent data on Scandinavian Biotech firms together with associated firm level data, this paper explores factors that drive the innovative scope of biotech firms. Collaborating with pharmaceutical firms, universities and other dedicated biotech firms proves beneficiary in introducing innovations broadening the innovation scope of biotech firms. Contrasting large and small molecules research firms exhibit noteworthy differences in the type of collaboration partner that allows the firm to expand its innovative scope. This suggests that biotech firms need to align the partner type with its science base if the goal is to produce patents beyond the firms technological boundary. Additionally, we find that outsourcing and acquisition of innovations increase their scope, lending support to the view that outsourced R&D expands the boundary of the firm’s innovative search.