• Korean small business review
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.67-93
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• 2009

The purpose of this paper is to explore the relations between financial constraints and dividend smoothing of innovative small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs) listed on Korea Securities Market and Kosdaq Market of Korea Exchange. The innovative SMEs is defined as the firms with high level of R&D intensity which is measured by (R&D investment/total sales) ratio, according to Chauvin and Hirschey (1993). The R&D investment plays an important role as the innovative driver that can increase the future growth opportunity and profitability of the firms. Therefore, the R&D investment have large, positive, and consistent influences on the market value of the firm. In this point of view, we expect that the innovative SMEs can adjust dividend payment faster than the noninnovative SMEs, on the ground of their future growth opportunity and profitability. And also, we expect that the financial unconstrained firms can adjust dividend payment faster than the financial constrained firms, on the ground of their financing ability of investment funds through the market accessibility. Aivazian et al.(2006) exert that the financial unconstrained firms with the high accessibility to capital market can adjust dividend payment faster than the financial constrained firms. We collect the sample firms among the total SMEs listed on Korea Securities Market and Kosdaq Market of Korea Exchange during the periods from January 1999 to December 2007 from the KIS Value Library database. The total number of firm-year observations of the total sample firms throughout the entire period is 5,544, the number of firm-year observations of the dividend firms is 2,919, and the number of firm-year observations of the non-dividend firms is 2,625. About 53%(or 2,919) of these total 5,544 observations involve firms that make a dividend payment. The dividend firms are divided into two groups according to the R&D intensity, such as the innovative SMEs with larger than median of R&D intensity and the noninnovative SMEs with smaller than median of R&D intensity. The number of firm-year observations of the innovative SMEs is 1,506, and the number of firm-year observations of the noninnovative SMEs is 1,413. Furthermore, the innovative SMEs are divided into two groups according to level of financial constraints, such as the financial unconstrained firms and the financial constrained firms. The number of firm-year observations of the former is 894, and the number of firm-year observations of the latter is 612. Although all available firm-year observations of the dividend firms are collected, deletions are made in the case of financial industries such as banks, securities company, insurance company, and other financial services company, because their capital structure and business style are widely different from the general manufacturing firms. The stock repurchase was involved in dividend payment because Grullon and Michaely (2002) examined the substitution hypothesis between dividends and stock repurchases. However, our data structure is an unbalanced panel data since there is no requirement that the firm-year observations data are all available for each firms during the entire periods from January 1999 to December 2007 from the KIS Value Library database. We firstly estimate the classic Lintner(1956) dividend adjustment model, where the decision to smooth dividend or to adopt a residual dividend policy depends on financial constraints measured by market accessibility. Lintner model indicates that firms maintain stable and long run target payout ratio, and that firms adjust partially the gap between current payout rato and target payout ratio each year. In the Lintner model, dependent variable is the current dividend per share(DPS_t), and independent variables are the past dividend per share(DPS_t-1) and the current earnings per share(EPS_t). We hypothesized that firms adjust partially the gap between the current dividend per share(DPS_t) and the target payout ratio(Ω) each year, when the past dividend per share(DPS_t-1) deviate from the target payout ratio(Ω). We secondly estimate the expansion model that extend the Lintner model by including the determinants suggested by the major theories of dividend, namely, residual dividend theory, dividend signaling theory, agency theory, catering theory, and transactions cost theory. In the expansion model, dependent variable is the current dividend per share(DPS_t), explanatory variables are the past dividend per share(DPS_t-1) and the current earnings per share(EPS_t), and control variables are the current capital expenditure ratio(CEA_t), the current leverage ratio(LEV_t), the current operating return on assets(ROA_t), the current business risk(RISK_t), the current trading volume turnover ratio(TURN_t), and the current dividend premium(DPREM_t). In these control variables, CEA_t, LEV_t, and ROA_t are the determinants suggested by the residual dividend theory and the agency theory, ROA_t and RISK_t are the determinants suggested by the dividend signaling theory, TURN_t is the determinant suggested by the transactions cost theory, and DPREM_t is the determinant suggested by the catering theory. Furthermore, we thirdly estimate the Lintner model and the expansion model by using the panel data of the financial unconstrained firms and the financial constrained firms, that are divided into two groups according to level of financial constraints. We expect that the financial unconstrained firms can adjust dividend payment faster than the financial constrained firms, because the former can finance more easily the investment funds through the market accessibility than the latter. We analyzed descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, and median to delete the outliers from the panel data, conducted one way analysis of variance to check up the industry-specfic effects, and conducted difference test of firms characteristic variables between innovative SMEs and noninnovative SMEs as well as difference test of firms characteristic variables between financial unconstrained firms and financial constrained firms. We also conducted the correlation analysis and the variance inflation factors analysis to detect any multicollinearity among the independent variables. Both of the correlation coefficients and the variance inflation factors are roughly low to the extent that may be ignored the multicollinearity among the independent variables. Furthermore, we estimate both of the Lintner model and the expansion model using the panel regression analysis. We firstly test the time-specific effects and the firm-specific effects may be involved in our panel data through the Lagrange multiplier test that was proposed by Breusch and Pagan(1980), and secondly conduct Hausman test to prove that fixed effect model is fitter with our panel data than the random effect model. The main results of this study can be summarized as follows. The determinants suggested by the major theories of dividend, namely, residual dividend theory, dividend signaling theory, agency theory, catering theory, and transactions cost theory explain significantly the dividend policy of the innovative SMEs. Lintner model indicates that firms maintain stable and long run target payout ratio, and that firms adjust partially the gap between the current payout ratio and the target payout ratio each year. In the core variables of Lintner model, the past dividend per share has more effects to dividend smoothing than the current earnings per share. These results suggest that the innovative SMEs maintain stable and long run dividend policy which sustains the past dividend per share level without corporate special reasons. The main results show that dividend adjustment speed of the innovative SMEs is faster than that of the noninnovative SMEs. This means that the innovative SMEs with high level of R&D intensity can adjust dividend payment faster than the noninnovative SMEs, on the ground of their future growth opportunity and profitability. The other main results show that dividend adjustment speed of the financial unconstrained SMEs is faster than that of the financial constrained SMEs. This means that the financial unconstrained firms with high accessibility to capital market can adjust dividend payment faster than the financial constrained firms, on the ground of their financing ability of investment funds through the market accessibility. Futhermore, the other additional results show that dividend adjustment speed of the innovative SMEs classified by the Small and Medium Business Administration is faster than that of the unclassified SMEs. They are linked with various financial policies and services such as credit guaranteed service, policy fund for SMEs, venture investment fund, insurance program, and so on. In conclusion, the past dividend per share and the current earnings per share suggested by the Lintner model explain mainly dividend adjustment speed of the innovative SMEs, and also the financial constraints explain partially. Therefore, if managers can properly understand of the relations between financial constraints and dividend smoothing of innovative SMEs, they can maintain stable and long run dividend policy of the innovative SMEs through dividend smoothing. These are encouraging results for Korea government, that is, the Small and Medium Business Administration as it has implemented many policies to commit to the innovative SMEs. This paper may have a few limitations because it may be only early study about the relations between financial constraints and dividend smoothing of the innovative SMEs. Specifically, this paper may not adequately capture all of the subtle features of the innovative SMEs and the financial unconstrained SMEs. Therefore, we think that it is necessary to expand sample firms and control variables, and use more elaborate analysis methods in the future studies.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.75-107
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• 2012

Previous researches on technological innovation have several limitations such as lack of general mechanism for technological innovation(inputs, throughputs and outputs of technological innovation), large company oriented studies, and ignoring importance of technology management capabilities. So, this study suggested a new model using resource-based theory and system theory, and empirically applied that to SMEs. Structural equation model analysis by using 223 SMEs in Daegu region provided a support for most of hypotheses. Research results showed that all of factors on technological innovation were significantly and positively related with each other: inputs(R&D leadership, innovation strategy, R&D investment, R&D human resource management, external network), throughputs(portfolio management, project management, technology commercialization) and output(technological innovation). In case of technological innovation inputs, R&D leadership influenced on innovation strategy positively and significantly. And R&D leadership and innovation strategy had positive and significant effects on R&D investment, R&D human resource management and external network. R&D human resource management and external network exerted positive and significant influences on technological innovation throughputs such as portfolio management and project management. But R&D investment did not significant impacts on technological innovation throughputs. Among technological innovation throughputs, both portfolio management and project management had positive and significant effect on technology commercialization. In addition, technology commercialization acted positively and significantly technological innovation output. This study suggests necessary of efforts to implement innovation strategy and manage R&D human resource effectively based on CEO's innovativeness and entrepreneurship. Also, if SMEs want to develop technology and commercialize it, they have to cooperate with external technology resources and informations. Research results revealed that proper level of R&D investment, internal and external communication, information sharing, and learning and cooperative culture were very important for improvement of technological innovation performance in SMEs. Especially, this research suggested that if SMEs manage technological innovation process effectively based on resource-based and system approaches, then they can overcome their resource limitations and gain high technological innovation performance. Also, useful policy support for technological innovation of central or regional government by this research model is important factor for SMEs' technological innovation performance.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.81-94
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• 2021

In SMEs, technological innovation is recognized as an important tool in terms of sustainable growth. This study analyzed the determinants of technological innovation by using the information of the corporate panel DB composed of local SMEs. The internal factors were added with technological innovation capacity and production capacity and the industrial cluster environment was first applied to external factors. Also, whether the industrial cluster environment influences technological innovation through R&D capabilities, the mediating effect was tested with the Sobel Test. Among the internal and external factors, the most important determinant was marketing ability, and a policy was proposed to develop measures to increase R&D capability with mediating effect. Among the technological innovation variables, which are dependent variables, the most determinant factor was the proportion of new product sales. For this, it is considered that additional research such as longitudinal research with the concept of repetition and parallax using the corporate panel DB is necessary.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.175-189
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• 2020

Daejeon City has strived to support the SMEs to innovate technologies based on the capabilities of research and development of the Daedeok Innopolis. It is widely known that technological innovation is the key strategy of Small medium enterprises(SME) to survive and succeed in a market. This study aims to analyze the type and determinants of SME technological innovation in Daejeon. Even though most of firms are the small enterprises which employ less than 10 workers in Daejeon, the number of technology-oriented company per capita in Daejeon is highest in South Korea. The type of technological innovation is divided between product innovation and process innovation. The literature insists that technology-oriented small firm tends to implement product innovation rather than process innovation. SMEs in Daejeon also provided more output from product innovation than process innovation. The empirical analysis provided the results that the determinants of SME's technological innovation depends on its type. The scale of firm, R&D investment, and R&D employees positively influence product innovation of SMEs in Daejeon. However, the impact of R&D employees is not significant on innovating the existing product. Process innovation is positively affected by R&D investment and firm age. The study provides the policy implications to business supporting programs of Daejeon government. The business supporting policy of Daejeon government should focus on supporting each type of technological innovation to promote technological innovation by SME and consider strategies that focus on R&D investment and manpower support.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.360-393
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• 2020

The space industry is a comprehensive and technology-intensive industry involving different converging technologies. However, most of the companies in Korea's space industry are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and need to strengthen global capacity to export their products. However, the link between the destination country and the product remains insufficient. Consequently, the purpose of this study is to propose an export roadmap for space products to provide SMEs with export opportunities and strategic guidelines. For this, technology roadmap and portfolio analysis are applied to this purpose. This study is expected to be helpful to SMEs and government agencies.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.57-89
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• 2016

This paper used individual establishment level data to estimate the effects of government support for the research and development of 'small and medium enterprises'(SMEs). We analyzed, on the establishment level, the degree of technical advancement, strength of private R&D incentives, and the effect on employment levels of firms which participated in the 2010 government R&D support project. The results of this study are as follows. First, the size and frequency of government investment in the R&D of SMEs were both positively correlated with the amount of patent registrations. Furthermore, we found that the amount of patent registrations were positively correlated with the size of the establishments, but the average level of technological advancement for the firms running the research was lower than the average level of technological advancement for the firms merely participating in the project. Second, the government's R&D policy was found to be complementary to private R&D incentives, and a 1% increase in government R&D investment resulted in an inelastic increase (0.193~0.245%) of the firms' post-program R&D spending. Third, we found that R&D support from the government contributed to an increase of employment by the participating firms. Additionally, we found that the impact of R&D support on job creation varied for the firm size and technological characteristics. Therefore, it is important for governments to take into consideration each type of small business, when setting R&D policies.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.55-76
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• 2018

This study analyzed the effect of the government R&D subsidy program on long-term firm survival. In order to estimate the average treatment effect for the treated group, we used the survival analysis and matching method by constituting a comprehensive dataset of more than 90,000 observations. The analysis results show that the government R&D subsidy has a negative impact on long-term firm survival. In particular, not only the subsidy does not have a statistically significant effect on firm survival in the relatively short-term, the survival probability of the subsidized firms is statistically significantly lower than the non-subsidized firms after six years. These results can be seen as weakening the justification of government R&D support. There may be problems in the subsidy policy itself and the process of selection of subsidy awardees; however, the more fundamental problem is that the subsidy policy is concluded as the one-time event. Admittedly, it would be difficult for the government to precisely manage the subsidized projects over a long term period. However, in the case of a project in which short-term performance is detected, it would be necessary to provide a step-by-step support to strengthen the firm's competitiveness through further support and continuous development of performance. Of course, mid- and long-term evaluations of subsidy support policy should be performed in parallel with such phased support.

• Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Venturing and Entrepreneurship
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.221-233
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• 2019

In Korea, small and medium sized domestic enterprises(SMEs) play an pivotal role in the national economy, accounting for 99.9% of all enterprises, 87.9% of total employment, and 48.3% of production. and SMEs was driving a real force of the development of national economy in many respects such as innovation, job creation, industrial diversity, balanced regional development. Despite their crucial role in the national development, most of SMEs suffer from a lack of R&D capabilities and equipments as well as funding capacity. Public R&D institutes can provide SMEs with valuable supplementary technological knowledge and help them build technological capacity. so, In order to effectively support SMEs, government and public R&D institutes must be a priority to know about the factors influencing the performance related to technology transfer and technological collaborations. In particular, SMEs are not only taking up a large portion of the national economy, but also their influence in politics and economy so strong that raising the competitiveness of small and medium-sized companies is a national policy goal that must be achieved in order to achieve sustained economic growth. For this reason, it is necessary to look specifically at the relationship between concepts such as the environment, strategy, and organizational culture surrounding the enterprise to enhance the competitiveness of SMEs. The paper analyzes 665 companies to find out which organizational culture affects their performance by classification and type of business of SMEs. This study demonstrated that when SMEs seek consistency in their external environment, strategies, and organizational structure to maintain their continued competitiveness. According to three-way analysis of variance (3-way ANOVA) indicates that classification of industries in SMEs has statistically significant main effects, but the type of business and organizational culture do not have significant effects. However, the company's organizational performance (operating profit) of SMES were found to differ significantly in comparison between groups according to classification standards of industries, and therefore adopted some parts. In addition, an analysis of the effect of interaction between the three independent variables of small and medium-sized enterprises has shown that there are statistically significant interaction effects among classification, types of business, and organizational cultures. The results shows that there is an organizational culture suitable for each industry classification and type of business of an entity, and is expected to be used as a basis for establishing promotion policies related to the incubation and commerciality of small and medium-sized venture companies in the future.

• Management & Information Systems Review
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.1-18
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• 2013

Previous studies related with the relationship between R&D and innovation have focused on the role of R&D on innovation, and the empirical results have been not consistent. Although government policy supports have been considered a crucial factor to make innovation, it is true that there are little studies investigating the moderating effects of government policy supports on the relationship between R&D and innovation. The studies related with government policy supports mainly examined the direct effects of government policy supports on innovation. Using 2008 innovation activity table from STEPI, this study investigated the effect of R&D on innovation and the moderating effects of government policy support on the relationship between R&D and innovation. The data used in this study contains 532 Korean small and medium sized firms and information was collected over 3 years(2006-2008). The empirical results reports that R&D positively influences innovation and the moderating effects of government policy on the relationship is statistically significant. Therefore, This study suggests that R&D is required to firms for innovation and government policy supports are needed for connecting the R&D and innovation.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.75-98
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• 2010

The purpose of this paper is to give policy implications for relevant policy-makers by analyzing factors affecting performance of industrial R&D programs of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy. The independent variables are type of project leader organization(Big Enterprises, SMEs, Ventures Businesses, Public Research Institutions, Universities), cooperative or noncooperative R&D among industry-university-research institution, total number of project participant organization, total R&D investment, and the ratio of private investment to total R&D investment. The dependent variables are domestic or foreign patents granted and domestic or foreign papers accepted. The method of analysis is Poisson Regression analysis operated by STATA. The results of this research are follows ; Universities show higher R&D performance compared to enterprises or public research institutions in terms of patents and papers as well. Venture businesses show higher patent performance compared to SMEs. Inverted U-shaped relationship between total number of project participant organization and R&D performance is not supported. The higher total R&D investment, the higher R&D performance. The higher the ratio of private investment to total R&D investment, the higher R&D performance.