The purpose of this paper is to advance knowledge by exploring how small and medium enterprises (SMEs) search for external knowledge in their open innovation processes, and how the search can be advanced.,This exploratory research employs a qualitative multiple case study design. A literature review of open innovation in SMEs and external knowledge search is used to build the premises of this study. Semi-structured interviews with eight SMEs are employed to collect subsequent exploratory empirical data.,This exploratory study revealed that SMEs adopted a combination of cognitive and experiential search heuristics where cognitive search was practiced during the innovation research process when searching for external knowledge, whilst experiential search was practiced during the innovation development process. Concerning the search space, this study found that SMEs mainly explored local knowledge, and occasionally pursued distant knowledge when confronted with complex problems. The reason for the above behavior was explained to be related to the reduction of costs and risks associated with innovation activities.,External knowledge plays a pivotal role in open innovation. Although extant studies have shed some light on how large firms search for external knowledge, however, it is not clear how SMEs search for external knowledge. Moreover, this study focuses on learning about both the search space and the search heuristics at both the research and the development stages of the innovation process.

中文翻译：

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中小企业开放式创新过程中的外部知识搜索路径

本文的目的是通过探索中小企业如何在开放式创新过程中搜索外部知识以及如何进行高级搜索来提高知识。本探索性研究采用了定性的多案例研究设计。中小企业开放式创新和外部知识搜索的文献综述被用来构建本研究的前提。采用对八家中小企业的半结构化访谈来收集随后的探索性经验数据。该探索性研究表明，中小企业在认知研究中采用了认知和体验式搜索启发式相结合的方式，即在创新性研究过程中，在搜索外部知识时进行认知搜索，而体验式搜索是在创新开发过程中进行的。关于搜索空间，这项研究发现，中小企业主要探索本地知识，而在遇到复杂问题时偶尔寻求远距离知识。解释上述行为的原因与降低创新活动的成本和风险有关。外部知识在开放式创新中起着关键作用。尽管现有的研究为大型企业如何寻找外部知识提供了一些启示，但是尚不清楚中小型企业如何寻找外部知识。此外，本研究的重点是在创新过程的研究阶段和开发阶段都研究搜索空间和搜索启发式方法。解释上述行为的原因与降低创新活动的成本和风险有关。外部知识在开放式创新中起着关键作用。尽管现有的研究为大型企业如何寻找外部知识提供了一些启示，但是尚不清楚中小型企业如何寻找外部知识。此外，本研究的重点是在创新过程的研究阶段和开发阶段都研究搜索空间和搜索启发式方法。解释上述行为的原因与降低创新活动的成本和风险有关。外部知识在开放式创新中起着关键作用。尽管现有的研究为大型企业如何寻找外部知识提供了一些启示，但是尚不清楚中小型企业如何寻找外部知识。此外，本研究的重点是在创新过程的研究阶段和开发阶段都研究搜索空间和搜索启发式方法。