Unpacking Open Innovation: Absorptive Capacity, Exploratory and Exploitative Openness, and the Growth of Entrepreneurial Biopharmaceutical Firms

Tianjiao Xia, Stephen Roper · 2016 · Journal of Small Business Management

Summary. Absorptive capacity and external relationships drive growth in small biopharmaceutical firms. A study of 349 firms across the US, UK, France, and Germany shows that a firm's ability to recognize and use external knowledge matters significantly for expansion. Exploratory partnerships depend on sustained R&D investment, while exploitative partnerships require stronger internal knowledge absorption capabilities.

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Xia, T., & Roper, S.. (2016). Unpacking Open Innovation: Absorptive Capacity, Exploratory and Exploitative Openness, and the Growth of Entrepreneurial Biopharmaceutical Firms. Journal of Small Business Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12220

@article{xia-2016-unpacking-open-innovation-absorptive-capacity,
  title   = {Unpacking Open Innovation: Absorptive Capacity, Exploratory and Exploitative Openness, and the Growth of Entrepreneurial Biopharmaceutical Firms},
  author  = {Tianjiao Xia and Stephen Roper},
  journal = {Journal of Small Business Management},
  year    = {2016},
  doi     = {10.1111/jsbm.12220},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jsbm.12220}
}

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TI  - Unpacking Open Innovation: Absorptive Capacity, Exploratory and Exploitative Openness, and the Growth of Entrepreneurial Biopharmaceutical Firms
AU  - Tianjiao Xia
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DO  - 10.1111/jsbm.12220
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Details

DOI: 10.1111/jsbm.12220
Countries: United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany
Regions: North America, Europe
Categories: entrepreneurship, innovation-networks, innovation-theory, general-innovation
Added: 2026-04-28