Many writers have claimed that R&D has two 'faces'. In addition to the conventional role of stimulating innovation, R&D enhances technology transfer by improving the ability of firms to learn about advances in the leading edge ('absorptive capacity'). In this paper we document that there has...

Frontmatter -- Contents -- Contributors -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Part I INTRODUCTION -- 1 Introduction and Overview -- 2 Innovation in an Historical Perspective: Tales of Technology and Evolution -- Part II COUNTRY STUDIES -- 3 The United States -- 4 Japan -- 5 Germany -- 6 France -- 7...