Does R&D collaboration among enterprises promote technological convergence? ———Moderating effect of engagement level with universities / scientific research institutions

企业研发合作是否促进了技术融合? ———高校 / 科研机构参与程度的调节作用

Abstract

Technology convergence has become the primary way enterprises achieve technological innovation and cultivate disruptive technologies. Enterprises’ R&D cooperation was recognized as one of the crucial factors in promoting technological convergence. However, in the context of accelerated technology convergence in multiple fields, how enterprise R&D collaboration affects technology convergence remains unclear. Based on knowledge management theory and resource dependence theory, we constructed the multilayered complex network of enterprise R&D cooperation—technology convergence and measured the technology convergence degree of enterprises from the breadth, depth, and difference. Then, we explored the impact of enterprise R&D cooperation on technology convergence at different technology lifecycles and the moderating effect of engagement level with universities/scientific research institutions. We conducted empirical research on smartphone-related enterprises and found that (1) the strength of enterprises’ R&D cooperation, technology heterogeneity of enterprises’ R&D cooperation partners, and enterprises’ average R&D cooperation time all have a promoting effect on technology convergence depth and difference. The effects are more significant in the emergence and post-growth stages. (2) The strength of enterprises’ R&D cooperation, technology heterogeneity of enterprises’ R&D cooperation partners, and enterprises’ average R&D cooperation time all have an inhibitory effect on technology convergence breadth. The effects are different in each technology lifecycles. (3) The engagement level with universities/scientific research institutions positively regulates the inhibitory relationships between the strength of enterprises’ R&D cooperation, technology heterogeneity of enterprises’ R&D cooperation partners, enterprises’ average R&D cooperation time, and technology convergence breadth. The engagement level with universities/scientific research institutions negatively regulates the strength of enterprises’ R&D cooperation, technology heterogeneity of enterprises’ R&D cooperation partners, enterprises’ average R&D cooperation time, and technology convergence depth and difference. This paper revealed the intrinsic mechanism of enterprises’ R&D cooperation on technological convergence, which provided crucial theoretical and practical references for guiding enterprises to promote technology convergence through R&D cooperation, thereby cultivating disruptive technologies.