The Determinants of the Emergence of Coopetition Strategy in R&D

André Nemeh (1) , Saïd Yami (2)

1 ESC Rennes School of Business
2 LEM - Lille économie management - UMR 9221

This study aims to reveal the determinants of the emergence of coopetition strategy in R&D programs. This qualitative research is based on an exploratory case study: the cluster Celtic-Plus, dedicated to wireless telecommunications within the Eureka program. Our results show that several factors are necessary for coopetitive projects to emerge: a favorable context for collaboration, research-oriented objectives, consistency with the strategy of member firms, and a portfolio of R&D projects represented in several European, national, and regional R&D programs. This research shows how the degree of maturity of technology shapes a firm’s choice of coopetition strategy. Competitors work together to render technology maturer but without arriving at the development of final products and services stage. This strategy creates a time-lag between the cooperative and the competitive behaviors of the coopetition strategy. The study concludes with guidance for firms choosing a coopetition strategy.

Mots clés: Coopetition; R&D; emergence; European wireless telecommunications; case study

Domaines: Gestion et management

André Nemeh, Saïd Yami. The Determinants of the Emergence of Coopetition Strategy in R&D. International Studies of Management and Organization, 2016, 46 (2-3), pp.159--178. ⟨10.1080/00208825.2016.1112151⟩. ⟨hal-01563003⟩