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The Nexus of Digital Technology, Innovation and Firm Productivity: Essays on the Role of R&D Practices and Digital Skills

par Bakkali, Samira
Président du jury Dehon, Catherine
Promoteur van Zeebroeck, Nicolas
Co-Promoteur Cincera, Michele
Publication Non publié, 2025-04-18

Thèse de doctorat

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Résumé :

This dissertation integrates findings from three empirical studies that critically examine the determinants and outcomes of digital technology, R&D collaboration, and key enabling technology (KET) competencies in enhancing firm-level productivity.The inaugural study is structured into two parts. Part I, comprising two chapters, explores R&D collaboration and technology adoption. Chapter I employs a robust analysis of patent data to delineate the evolving patterns of R&D collaboration, emphasizing the strategic shift towards collaborative team-based innovation efforts. It elucidates a U-shaped relationship between technological proximity and R&D collaboration and a positive impact of technological specialization on R&D collaborative efforts. These findings illustrate the complex influence of technological factors on collaborative dynamics.Chapter II examines the interplay between technology adoption and R&D collaboration using Poisson and Negative Binomial regression models. This analysis uncovers a non-linear association between broadband penetration and R&D collaboration, highlighting the heterogeneity of this relationship across diverse technological domains and its broader implications for innovation policy.Part II highlights the essential role of Key Enabling Technology (KET) skills in stimulating innovation-driven growth for firms. Through a dedicated chapter, it explores how these specialized skills influence firms’ capacities to innovate, adapt and compete in an increasingly technology-driven environment. By examining their impact at different levels of productivity and firm type, this section highlights the dynamic and multifaceted relationship between technological expertise and business performance. The analysis focuses on how Belgian firms with strong technological capabilities can leverage these skills to improve efficiency, foster continuous innovation and maintain long-term competitive advantages in rapidly evolving markets.Through this comprehensive investigation, the dissertation contributes novel insights into the strategic management of digital technologies, R&D collaborations and technological skills. It offers empirical evidence to guide policymakers, business leaders, and practitioners in fostering environments conducive to high-impact innovation and sustainable economic growth in today’s global business environment.