ISBN: 978-92-64-04404-3 Published: June 2008 Pages: 110

Table of contents | How to obtain this publication Globalisation is quickly reshaping the international economic landscape, resulting in an increasing global supply of science and technology (S&T) resources and capabilities. China and India, for example, have taken their place as important players with a growing capacity for research and innovation. As global competition intensifies and innovation becomes riskier and more costly, the business sector is internationalising knowledge-intensive corporate functions, including R&D. Firms increasingly offshore R&D activities to other countries to sense new market and technology trends worldwide. Overall, the internationalisation of a firm’s R&D promises substantial benefits (cost efficiency, learning potential, etc) but also creates serious challenges for many countries (such as the loss of R&D jobs and knowledge).

This report brings together the empirical evidence on the internationalisation of business R&D. It analyses trends in the offshoring of R&D, examines its drivers and motivations, and identifies implications for innovation policy. It examines the internationalisation of R&D through foreign direct investment (FDI) by multinational enterprises (MNEs), which account for the bulk of business R&D in the OECD area. It also discusses complementary aspects of the global innovation landscape, such as the internationalisation of science, the growing importance of international technology co-operation and the growing international mobility of researchers.

---

Table of contents

Executive Summary (download)

Introduction

Chapter 1. The Activities of Multinationals Abroad

• Globalisation on the rise: the emergence of global value chains
• The increasing internationalisation of R&D
• The role of multinationals in global R&D
• Most R&D investments abroad still go to OECD countries
• Increased R&D activity by multinationals in emerging countries
• Patenting by multinationals abroad
• Drivers and motivations of foreign direct investment in R&D
• Outward FDI in R&D by emerging countries
• Organising and managing R&D internationalisation within MNEs

Chapter 2. The Internationalisation of Innovation

• The changing landscape for R&D investment
• The internationalisation of R&D and technology collaboration
• The internationalisation of science
• The international mobility of human resources in science and technology
• The international exploitation of technology

Chapter 3. Policy Implications

• Challenges and opportunities in the internationalisation of business research and development
• Policies relating to the internationalisation of R&D by MNEs
• Policies to encourage the internationalisation of innovation
• Concluding remarks

Bibilography

---

How to obtain this publication

Readers can access the full version of this book choosing from the following options:

• Browse free online and purchase the PDF e-book and/or print edition via our OECD Online Bookshop.
• Subscribers and readers at subscribing institutions can access the online edition via SourceOECD, our online library.
• Government officials with accounts (subscribe) can go to the "books" tab on OLIS.
• Order from your local distributor.
• Access by password for accredited journalists .