Co-innovation by KIBS in environmental services : a resource-based view

This paper investigates the ability of knowledge intensive business firms (KIBS) to engage in co-innovation with client firms. Co-innovation relates to KIBS competitive advantage as knowledge creators and sources of innovation. We propose a resource-based model where knowledge-related resources and capabilities explain why certain KIBS firms are able to co-innovate. We explore the model on a sample of Dutch environmental investigation firms. Our exploratory results confirm the expected dominant role played by the learning capabilities of KIBS firms in explaining their ability to co-innovate.