Starting from the model of the initiation and evolution of inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D relationships developed by Faems et al. (2007), the purpose of this paper is to refine and improve this model, assessing its reliability in a different and wider context and extending it according to the outcomes.,A multiple case-study approach was implemented, examining 34 dyadic inter-firm R&D relationships. This methodology suited the research goal of exploring the validity of a model in an area where little data or theory exists.,The theoretical model proposed by Faems et al. (2007) was improved, confirming the adequacy of the overall structure of their intuition and highlighting several differences in terms of factors that lead to the dissolution of R&D relationships. These differences mainly refer to partners’ similarities before starting R&D relationships, co-opetition situations, knowledge leakage/opportunistic behavior and reputation issues.,This work is the first to investigate two open research gaps related to the model of the initiation and evolution of inter-firm knowledge transfer in R&D relationships: the need for additional case studies in other contexts to develop a more general theory and the lack of research incorporating issues such as relational capital between partners, governance form and alliance scope in an integrated analysis.

中文翻译：

---

重新设计研发关系中企业间知识转移的启动和演化模型

从Faems等人开发的R＆D关系中企业间知识转移的启动和演化模型开始。（2007年），本文的目的是完善和改进该模型，在不同和更广泛的背景下评估其可靠性，并根据结果进行扩展。实施了多案例研究方法，检查了34个二元公司研发关系。这种方法学适合研究在数据或理论很少的地区探索模型有效性的研究目标。Faems等人提出的理论模型。（2007年）进行了改进，确认了他们的直觉的整体结构是否足够，并强调了导致研发关系解散的因素方面的几种差异。