We analyze transfer channels of radical innovations launched by small and medium-sized firms (SMEs) using an ego network approach. Based on a unique longitudinal dataset covering the observation period 1996–2016, we identify and trace back radical innovations of SMEs in German Biotech in order to analyze the extent to which SMEs themselves—or eventually also other organizations in their direct cooperation surrounding—benefit from radical innovations in terms of subsequent innovation performance. Results from negative binomial panel regressions indicate that direct cooperation partners of radical innovators show higher innovative performance than partners of the control group, i.e., statistical twin firms without radical innovations. Our results confirm that radical innovations initiate a positive impulse for innovation through direct cooperative relationships. Interestingly, geographical proximity does not play a role, and especially technologically different partners benefit from direct cooperation with radical innovators.

Plain English Summary Radical innovations are rare but have a great importance for the economy. Our study shows that not only radically innovating biotech SMEs themselves but also various types of directly linked cooperation partners benefit significantly. We investigate whether directly linked cooperation partners of radically innovating firms benefit from knowledge spillover transferred through formal cooperation. A radical innovation represents a novel and often complex combination of already existing knowledge. Thus, knowledge transfer process differs for radical and non-radical innovations. Project-based formal cooperation can support the transfer of radical knowledge. In this context geographical and technological factors matter. Using the example of German small and medium-sized biotechnology firms, we show that collaboration with radical firms is positively related to innovation performance of directly linked project partners. Interestingly, this effect is higher for partners located in other regions as well as for technologically distant partners. Our study extends the research on knowledge transfer by emphasizing the role of formal collaboration projects, especially in knowledge intensive high-tech industries.

我们使用自我网络方法分析中小型企业（SME）发起的重大创新的转移渠道。基于涵盖1996-2016年观察期的独特纵向数据集，我们确定并追溯了德国生物技术领域中的中小企业的根本性创新，以分析中小企业自身（或最终还有其他组织在其直接合作范围内）从中受益的程度。在后续创新绩效方面进行根本性创新。负二项式面板回归的结果表明，激进创新者的直接合作伙伴比对照组的合作伙伴，即没有激进创新的统计孪生公司，表现出更高的创新绩效。我们的结果证实，激进的创新通过直接的合作关系为创新带来了积极的冲动。有趣的是，地理上的邻近性并不起作用，尤其是技术上不同的合作伙伴可以从与激进的创新者的直接合作中受益。

普通英语摘要激进的创新很少见，但对经济具有重要意义。我们的研究表明，不仅从根本上创新生物技术中小企业本身，而且各种直接联系的合作伙伴都会受益匪浅。我们调查彻底创新的公司的直接链接的合作伙伴是否受益于通过正式合作转移的知识溢出。彻底的创新代表了现有知识的新颖且通常是复杂的组合。因此，对于根本性和非根本性的创新，知识转移的过程是不同的。基于项目的正式合作可以支持基本知识的转移。在这种情况下，地理和技术因素很重要。以德国中小型生物技术公司为例，我们表明，与激进公司的合作与直接链接的项目合作伙伴的创新绩效呈正相关。有趣的是，对于其他地区的合作伙伴以及技术距离较远的合作伙伴，这种影响更大。我们的研究通过强调正式协作项目的作用来扩展知识转移的研究，特别是在知识密集型高科技产业中。