Article2014

Upgrading to lead firm position via international acquisition: learning from the global biomass power plant industry

Ulrich Elmer Hansen · Niels Fold · Teis Hansen

84 citations0/0 files storedJournal of Economic Geography

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International Business and FDI Innovation and Knowledge Management Global trade, sustainability, and social impact

Abstract

This article examines the case of a Chinese firm that has upgraded to lead firm position in the global biomass power plant industry mainly through acquisitions of technological frontier firms in Denmark. Sustaining the lead firm position was, however, challenged by difficulties in developing innovative capability. Drawing on the literature on (i) firm-level technological capability and (ii) knowledge transfer in international acquisitions, we explain the reasons for insufficient innovative capability building. Based on these empirical findings, we suggest maintaining the existing upgrading framework but applying it analytically in a more flexible manner that avoids linearity, hierarchy and segmentation while stressing the co-existence of and inter-relationships between the different types of upgrading.

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References

1984Case Study Research: Design and Methods 1989Building Theories from Case Study Research 1997Social Structure and Competition in Interfirm Networks: The Paradox of Embeddedness 1996Exploring internal stickiness: Impediments to the transfer of best practice within the firm 2005The governance of global value chains 1991Competition for competence and interpartner learning within international strategic alliances 1999International trade and industrial upgrading in the apparel commodity chain 2007International expansion of emerging market enterprises: A springboard perspective

Cited by

2021An evolutionary perspective on economic catch-up by latecomers 2017Subsidiary capability upgrading under emerging market acquirers 2020Multinational enterprises and the governance of sustainability practices in emerging market supply chains: An agile governance perspective 2018Chinese and Indian MNEs’ shopping spree in advanced countries. How good is it for their innovative output?2020Technological Capabilities, Upgrading, and Value Capture in Global Value Chains: Local Apparel and Floriculture Firms in Sub-Saharan Africa

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