Technology Policy and Co-operative R&D: The Role of Relational Research Capacity

Evolutionary theories of technological change and industrial dynamics give primary importance to interaction between heterogeneous agents, endowed with complementary assets and competencies. Accordingly, support to co-operative R&D is central to technology policy, as a mean for increasing system connectivity, triggering virtuous cycles of learning and promoting variety. The paper investigates the “chemistry of technological co-operation”, relating its effectiveness and results to the partners’ relational research capacity, i.e. their ability to evaluate, integrate, process and exploit knowledge flows generated by the interaction. A functional specification for the relational research capacity is proposed and its properties are investigated. The formal analysis works as a guideline for the statement of research hypothesis related to the effectiveness of co-operative R&D programmes, to be tested on empirical grounds.