Share:


The mechanisms of technological innovation in SMEs: a Bayesian Network Analysis of EU regional policy impact on Polish firms

Abstract

We study the underlying mechanisms of technological innovation in SMEs in the context of ex-post evaluation of European Union’s regional policy. Our aim is to explain the observed change in firms’ innovativeness after receiving EU support for technological investment. To do so, we take an approach that is novel in innovation studies: a Bayesian Network Analysis to assess the effectiveness of EU policy instrument for technological innovation and to determine the mechanisms by which the policy works within firms. Our data draw from a unique survey of 200 Polish firms that received “Technological Credit” during the 2007−2013 programming period. First, we confirm the short-term positive impact of the EU innovation policy (i.e. a wider range of products/services offered, increased sales and exports). More importantly, we determine the causal chain between economically quantifiable outcomes and behavioural change in the firm, which is an important node in the network of effects generated. We find that only the financially sounder and more internationalised firms managed to take advantage of the policy. These findings suggest that programmes based on technological credits are not well suited to foster innovation in more fragile and domestically oriented SMEs, which may require different policy instruments.

Keyword : technological innovation, regional policy, policy impact evaluation, Bayesian Network Analysis, SMEs

How to Cite
Florio, M., Parteka, A., & Sirtori, E. (2018). The mechanisms of technological innovation in SMEs: a Bayesian Network Analysis of EU regional policy impact on Polish firms. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 24(5), 2131-2160. https://doi.org/10.3846/tede.2018.6056
Published in Issue
Oct 22, 2018
Abstract Views
1273
PDF Downloads
919
SM Downloads
358
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Acs, Z. J., & Audretsch, D. B. (1990). Innovation and small firms. Cambridge: MIT Press.

Acs, Z. J., Audretsch, D. B., Braunerhjelm, P., & Carlsson, B. (2009). The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 32(1), 15-30. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-008-9157-3

Aerts, K., & Schmidt, T. (2008). Two for the price of one?: Additionality effects of R&D subsidies: a comparison between Flanders and Germany. Research Policy, 37(5), 806-822. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2008.01.011

Alecke, B., Mitze, T., Reinkowski, J., & Untiedt, G. (2012). Does firm size make a difference? Analysing the effectiveness of R&D subsidies in East Germany. German Economic Review, 13(2), 174-195. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0475.2011.00546.x

Arrow, K. (1962). Economic welfare and the allocation of resources for inventions. In R. Nelson (Ed.), The rate and direction of inventive activity. Princeton: Princeton University Press. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400879762-024

Astbury, B., & Leeuw, F. L. (2010). Unpacking black boxes: mechanisms and theory building in evaluation. American Journal of Evaluation, 31(3), 363-381. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098214010371972

Astbury, B. (2013). Some reflections on Pawson᾽s science of evaluation: a realist manifesto. Evaluation, 19(4), 383-401. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389013505039

Bach, L., Matt, M., & Wolff, S. (2014). How do firms perceive policy rationales behind the variety of instruments supporting collaborative R&D? Lessons from the European Framework Programs. Technovation, 34(5), 327-337. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2014.02.008

Baruk, J. (1997). Innovativeness of Polish enterprises in the initial period of system transformation. Technovation, 17(9), 477-530. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-4972(97)00034-5

Battisti, G., & Stoneman, P. (2010). How innovative are UK firms? Evidence from the fourth UK community innovation survey on synergies between technological and organisational innovations. British Journal of Management, 21(1), 187-206. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8551.2009.00629.x

Beck, T., & Demirguc-Kunt, A. (2006). Small and medium-size enterprises: access to finance as a growth constraint. Journal of Banking and Finance, 30(11), 2931-2943. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbankfin.2006.05.009

Becker, B. (2015). Public R&D policies and private R&D investment: a survey of the empirical evidence. Journal of Economic Surveys, 29(5), 917-942. https://doi.org/10.1111/joes.12074

Béres, A., & Závecz, G. (2016). Comparative counterfactual impact evaluation of repayable and nonrepayable financial assistances to SMEs in Hungary. Equinox Consulting.

Bérubé, C., & Mohnen, P. (2009). Are firms that receive R&D subsidies more innovative? Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue Canadienne d”économique, 42(1), 206-225.

Bronzini, R., & Iachini, E. (2014). Are Incentives for R&D Effective? Evidence from a regression discontinuity approach. American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 6(4), 100-134. https://doi.org/10.1257/pol.6.4.100

Bronzini, R., & Piselli, P. (2016). The impact of R&D subsidies on firm innovation. Research Policy, 45(2), 442-457. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2015.10.008

Brown, R., & Mason, C. (2014). Inside the high-tech black box: a critique of technology entrepreneurship policy. Technovation, 34(12), 773-784. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2014.07.013

Burgelman, R. A., Maidique, M. A., & Wheelwright, S. C. (1996). Strategic management of technology and innovation (Vol. 2). Chicago, IL: Irwin.

Camisón, C., & Villar-López, A. (2014). Organisational innovation as an enabler of technological innovation capabilities and firm performance. Journal of Business Research, 67(1), 2891-2902. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2012.06.004

Carpenter, R. E., & Petersen, B. C. (2002). Is the growth of small firms constrained by internal finance? Review of Economics and Statistics, 84(2), 298-309. https://doi.org/10.1162/003465302317411541

Carvalho, S., & White, H. (2004). Theory-based evaluation: the case of social funds. American Journal of Evaluation, 25(2), 141-160. https://doi.org/10.1177/109821400402500202

Chen, Y. H., & Nie, P. Y. (2014). Duopoly innovation under product externalities. Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 27(1), 232-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/1331677X.2014.952092

Clausen, T. H. (2009). Do subsidies have positive impacts on R&D and innovation activities at the firm level? Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 20(4), 239-253. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.strueco.2009.09.004

Cox, D., & Rigby, J. (2013). Innovation policy challenges for the 21st century. Routledge, Abingdon, Oxon.

Czarnitzki, D., & Hottenrott, H. (2011). R&D investment and financing constraints of small and medium-sized firms. Small Business Economics, 36(1), 65-83. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-009-9189-3

Czarnitzki, D., & Licht, G. (2006). Additionality of public R&D grants in a transition economy. Economics of Transition, 14(1), 101-131. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0351.2006.00236.x

Czarnitzki, D., & Lopes-Bento, C. (2013). Value for money? New microeconometric evidence on public R&D grants in Flanders. Research Policy, 42(1), 76-89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.04.008

Czarnitzki, D., Hanel, P., & Rosa, J. M. (2011). Evaluating the impact of R&D tax credits on innovation: a microeconometric study on Canadian firms. Research Policy, 40(2), 217-229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2010.09.017

Czemiel-Grzybowska, W., & Skowronek-Mielczarek, A. (2017). Entrepreneurship research in the Poland. Technological and Economic Development of Economy, 23(3), 504-519. https://doi.org/10.3846/20294913.2015.1070770

Daly, R., Shen, Q., & Aitken, S. (2011). Learning Bayesian networks: approaches and issues. The Knowledge Engineering Review, 26(2), 99-157. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0269888910000251

Dawid, A. P. (2000). Causal inference without counterfactuals. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 95(450), 407-424. https://doi.org/10.1080/01621459.2000.10474210

Dodgson, M., Gann, D. M., & Salter, A. (2008). The management of technological innovation: strategy and practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Dolfsma, W., & Seo, D. (2013). Government policy and technological innovation – a suggested typology. Technovation, 33(6), 173-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2013.03.011

Dosi, G., Freeman, C., Nelson, R., Silverberg, G., & Soete, L. G. (Eds.). (1988). Technical change and economic theory. London: Pinter.

Duda, J. (2012). Role and importance of technological credits in financing of innovative investments by small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland and Lesser Poland. AGH Managerial Economics, 12, 25-40. https://doi.org/10.7494/manage.2012.12.25

EBRD. (2015a). EBRD Transition Report 2015-2016. Retrieved from http://www.ebrd.com/news/publications/transition-report/ebrd-transition-report-201516.html

EBRD. (2015b). Business Environment and Enterprise Performance Survey (BEEPS) V. Retrieved from http://ebrd-beeps.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/BEEPSV-complete.pdf

EC. (2010). Europe 2020: a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, communication from the commission. European Commission, Brussels.

EC. (2015a). Support to SMEs – increasing research and innovation in SMEs and SME development, work package 2, first intermediate report. Ex post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2007-2013, focusing on the European Regional Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF). Contract number 2014CE16BAT002. Authored by CSIL, in partnership with CSES and ZEW. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/pdf/expost2013/wp2_1st_intermediate_report_1.pdf

EC. (2015b). Support to SMEs – increasing research and innovation in SMEs and SME development, work package 2, Poland. operational programme 2007-2013 innovative economy, case study. Ex post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2007-2013, focusing on the European Regional Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF). Contract number 2014CE16BAT002. Authored by Elena Jarocinska (CASE) and Jan Teresiński (CASE) in partnership with CSIL. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/pdf/expost2013/wp2_case_study_pl.pdf

EC. (2015c). Support to SMEs – increasing research and innovation in SMEs and SME development, third intermediate report, work package 2. Ex post evaluation of Cohesion Policy programmes 2007-2013, focusing on the European Regional Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund (CF). Contract number 2014CE16BAT002. Authored by CSIL, in partnership with CSES and ZEW. Vol. I. Retrieved from
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/pdf/expost2013/wp2_3rd_inter-mediate_report_1.pdf.pdf Vol. II. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docgener/evaluation/pdf/expost2013/wp2_3rd_intermediate_report_2.pdf.pdf

EC. (2016). European innovation scoreboard 2016. Retrieved from http://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/innovation/facts-figures/scoreboards_en

Edler, J., Cunningham, P., & Gök, A. (Eds.). (2016). Handbook of innovation policy impact. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781784711856

Edler, J., & Fagerberg, J. (2017). Innovation policy: what, why, and how. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 33(1), 2-23. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/grx001

Faber, J., van Dijk, J., & van Rijnsoever, F. (2016). Incentives and barriers for R&D-based SMEs to participate in European research programs: an empirical assessment for the Netherlands. Science and Public Policy, 43(3), 414-428. https://doi.org/10.1093/scipol/scv050

Foreman-Peck, J. (2013). Effectiveness and efficiency of SME innovation policy. Small Business Economics, 41(1), 55-70. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-012-9426-z

Gelman, A., Carlin, J. B., Stern, H. S., & Rubin, D. B. (2014). Bayesian data analysis (Vol. 2). Boca Raton, FL, USA: Chapman and Hall/CRC.

Giffoni, F., Salini, S., & Sirtori, E. (2018). Evaluating business support measures: the Bayesian network approach. Evaluation, 24(2), 133-152. https://doi.org/10.1177/1356389018767179

Gök, A., & Edler, J. (2012). The use of behavioural additionality evaluation in innovation policy making. Research Evaluation, 21(4), 306-318. https://doi.org/10.1093/reseval/rvs015

Golejewska, A., & Gajda, D. (2015). How Polish firms use the EU funds for innovative projects? Final evaluation of Pomerania region in Poland. In Innovation, Finance, and the Economy (pp. 1-13). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-15880-8_1

Hadjimanolis, A. (1999). Barriers to innovation for SMEs in a small less developed country (Cyprus). Technovation, 19(9), 561-570. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0166-4972(99)00034-6

Heckerman, D., Geiger, D., & Chickering, D. M. (1995). Learning Bayesian networks: the combination of knowledge and statistical data. Machine Learning, 20, 197-243. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00994016

Holmes, T. J., Levine, D. K., & Schmitz, J., J. A. (2012). Monopoly and the incentive to innovate when adoption involves switchover disruptions. American Economic Journal: Microeconomics, 4(3), 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1257/mic.4.3.1

Hottenrott, H., & Lopes-Bento, C. (2014). (International) R&D collaboration and SMEs: The effectiveness of targeted public R&D support schemes. Research Policy, 43(6), 1055-1066. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2014.01.004

Hueske, A. K., & Guenther, E. (2015). What hampers innovation? External stakeholders, the organisation, groups and individuals: a systematic review of empirical barrier research. Management Review Quarterly, 65(2), 113-148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11301-014-0109-5

Jasinski, A. H. (2003). Has innovation policy an influence on innovation? The case of a country in transition. Science and Public Policy, 30(6), 431-440. https://doi.org/10.3152/147154303781780245

Jasinski, A. H. (2014). Innovation policy instruments: do they work in Poland? International Journal of Transitions and Innovation Systems, 3(3), 269-290. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTIS.2014.065699

Kelley, D., Singer, S., & Herrington, M. (2016). Global entrepreneurship monitor – 2015/16 global report. Retrieved from http://www.gemconsortium.org/report/49480

Konings, J., Rizov, M., & Vandenbussche, H. (2003). Investment and financial constraints in transition economies: micro evidence from Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Romania. Economics Letters, 78(2), 253-258. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0165-1765(02)00210-0

Lauritzen, S. L., &. Spiegelhalter, D. J (1988). Local computations with probabilities on graphical structures and their application to expert systems (with discussion). Journal of the Royal Statistical Society. Series B (Methodological), 50(2), 157-224.

Lee, K., Park, I., & Yoon, B. (2016). An approach for R&D partner selection in alliances between large companies, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs): application of Bayesian network and patent analysis. Sustainability, 8(2), 117. https://doi.org/10.3390/su8020117

Lewandowska, A., Stopa, M., & Humenny, G. (2015). The European Union structural funds and regional development. The perspective of small and medium enterprises in Eastern Poland. European Planning Studies, 23(4), 785-797. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2014.970132

Madrid‐Guijarro, A., Garcia, D., & Van Auken, H. (2009). Barriers to innovation among Spanish manufacturing SMEs. Journal of Small Business Management, 47(4), 465-488. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-627X.2009.00279.x

Martínez‐Ros, E., & Labeaga, J. M. (2009). Product and process innovation: persistence and complementarities. European Management Review, 6(1), 64-75. https://doi.org/10.1057/emr.2009.4

Massa, S., & Testa, S. (2008). Innovation and SMEs: misaligned perspectives and goals among entrepreneurs, academics, and policy makers. Technovation, 28(7), 393-407. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2008.01.002

Mazzucato, M., & Semieniuk, G. (2017). Public financing of innovation: new questions. Oxford Review of Economic Policy, 33(1), 24-48. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxrep/grw036

Melitz, M. J. (2003). The impact of trade on intra‐industry reallocations and aggregate industry productivity. Econometrica, 71(6), 1695-1725. https://doi.org/10.1111/1468-0262.00467

Mole, K. F., Hart, M., Roper, S., & Saal, D. S. (2009). Assessing the effectiveness of business support services in England. Evidence from a theory-based evaluation. International Small Business Journal, 27(5), 557-582. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242609338755

Moral-Arce, I., & Paniagua, M. (2016). An impact evaluation of the EU funds on research and development in Spanish companies in 2007-2011. Papeles de Trabajo 7/2016. Istituto de Estudios Fiscales. Retrieved from http://www.ief.es/documentos/recursos/publicaciones/papeles_trabajo/2016_07.pdf

Nadkarni, S., & Shenoy, P. P. (2001). A Bayesian network approach to making inferences in causal maps. European Journal of Operational Research, 128(3), 479-498. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-2217(99)00368-9

Neapolitan, R. E. (2004). Learning Bayesian networks. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Nie, P. Y. (2013). Innovation under spatial duopoly. Prague Economic Papers, 23(4), 474-486. https://doi.org/10.18267/j.pep.463

Nieć, M. (2015). Innovation activity of enterprises in Poland in comparison to other European countries. In P. Zadura-Lichota (Ed.), Innovative entrepreneurship. Revealed and hidden potential for innovation in Poland. Warsaw: Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.

Nielsen, T. D., & Jensen, F. V. (2009). Bayesian networks and decision graphs. Springer Science and Business Media.

OECD. (2015). The innovation imperative: contributing to productivity, growth and well-being. Paris: OECD Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1787/9789264239814-en

Pawson, R., & Tilley, N. (1997). Realistic evaluation. Thousand Oaks, CA, US: Sage Publications, Inc.

Piva, M., Santarelli, E., & Vivarelli, M. (2005). The skill bias effect of technological and organisational change: evidence and policy implications. Research Policy, 34(2), 141-157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2004.11.005

Porter, M. E., Sachs, J., & McArthur, J. (2001). Executive summary: competitiveness and stages of economic development. The Global Competitiveness Report, 2002, 16-25.

Radicic, D., Pugh, G., Hollanders, H., Wintjes, R., & Fairburn, J. (2016). The impact of innovation support programs on small and medium enterprises innovation in traditional manufacturing industries: an evaluation for seven European Union regions. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 34(8), 1425-1452. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263774X15621759

Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5, Part 2), S71-S102. https://doi.org/10.1086/261725

Russell, S. J., & Norvig, P. (2003). Artificial intelligence: a modern approach. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Scherer, F. M. (1986). Innovation and growth: Schumpeterian perspectives. The MIT Press.

Spiegelhalter, D., Dawid, A., Lauritzen, S., & Cowell, R. (1993). Bayesian analysis in expert systems. Statistical Science, 8, 219-282. https://doi.org/10.1214/ss/1177010888

Tang, J. M. (2006). Competition and innovation behavior. Research Policy, 35(1), 68-82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2005.08.004

Teece, D. J. (1986). Profiting from technological innovation: implications for integration, collaboration, licensing and public policy. Research Policy, 15(6), 285-305. https://doi.org/10.1016/0048-7333(86)90027-2

Tilley, N. (2000). Realistic evaluation: an overview. In Founding Conference of the Danish Evaluation Society (Vol. 8). Retrieved from http://healthimpactassessment.pbworks.com/f/Realistic+evaluation+an+overview+-+UoNT+England+-+2000.pdf

Venturini, F., Aristei, D., & Sterlacchini, A. (2016). Effectiveness of R&D subsidies during the crisis: firm-level evidence across EU countries. Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 26(6), 1-20.

Węcławska, D., Tarnawa, A., Nieć, M., & Zbierowski, P. (2015). Global entrepreneurship monitor Poland. Warsaw: Polish Agency for Enterprise Development.

Weiss, C. H. (1997a). How can theory-based evaluation make greater headway? Evaluation Review, 21(4), 501-524. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841X9702100405

Weiss, C. H. (1997b). Theory-based evaluation: past, present, and future. New Directions for Evaluation, 1997(76), 41-55. https://doi.org/10.1002/ev.1086

Zúñiga‐Vicente, J. Á., Alonso‐Borrego, C., Forcadell, F. J., & Galán, J. I. (2014). Assessing the effect of public subsidies on firm R&D investment: a survey. Journal of Economic Surveys, 28(1), 36-67. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6419.2012.00738.x