Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society (기술혁신학회지)

Korea Technology Innovation Society (한국기술혁신학회)
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Rethinking Informal R&D Activities: Its Impact on Technological Innovation

비공식적인 연구개발 활동이 기술혁신에 미치는 영향

  • 오치훈 (한국보건산업진흥원) ;
  • 문성욱 (서강대학교 기술경영전문대학원) ;
  • 안준모 (서강대학교 기술경영전문대학원)
  • Received : 2016.02.21
  • Accepted : 2016.05.30
  • Published : 2016.06.30
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Abstract

To date, the literature has focused on formal R&D activities, such as internal, joint or external R&D, but informal R&D activities, such as job training or design, can also have a positive impact on technological innovation. To address this research gap, this paper examined 1) the influence of informal R&D activities on innovation adoption, and 2) the differences between formal R&D-oriented and informal R&D-oriented firms in process and product innovation. For this, statistical analysis was conducted using the data set from 2012 Korea Innovation Survey. The results suggest that 1) informal R&D activities can influence process innovation, and 2) firms engaging in both informal and formal R&D actively adopt product innovation. Findings suggest that 1) firms should recognize the importance of informal R&D and 2) national R&D policy should reflect the positive role of informal R&D in technological innovation.

내부 연구개발 같은 공식적인 연구개발 활동은 기술혁신을 견인하는 중요한 요소로 인식되어 왔으나, 직무훈련, 진보된 생산기술의 도입, 디자인 활동 같은 다양한 부대적인 혁신 관련 활동들도 기술혁신 성과를 제고하는데 긍정적인 영향을 미칠 수 있다. 본고는 이러한 비공식적인 연구개발 활동 여부가 기업의 기술혁신 도입에 차이를 가져오는지, 공식적인 연구개발 활동 중심 집단과 비공식적인 연구개발 활동 중심 집단 사이에 기술혁신 도입 차이가 있는지를 2012년 한국 기술혁신 활동 조사 데이터를 사용하여 분석하였다. 실증분석 결과, 비공식적인 연구개발 활동이 공정혁신 도입에 유의한 차이를 유발할 수 있으며, 내부 연구개발 활동에만 집중하는 기업보다, 디자인 마케팅 같은 비공식적인 연구개발 활동을 함께 추진하는 기업들이 제품혁신을 더 활발히 도입하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 연구는 (1) 혁신주체들이 공식적인 연구개발 활동과 함께 비공식적인 연구개발 관련 활동에도 관심을 기울여야 하며, (2) 정부의 혁신지원정책도 이러한 점을 감안하여 수립되어야 함을 정책적 시사점으로 제시하였다.

Keywords

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