Cooperation, Coopetition and Innovation

8Firm Multinationalization, Cooperation and Territorialized Inter-organizational Networks

8.1. Introduction

Many authors have contributed to the renewal of the debate on internationalization, both from an economic perspective (international economy and industrial) and from a strategic one. The logic of internationalization finds nourishment in the sources of a multidisciplinary approach, not a single view. Why internationalization has intensified in the last times can be explained both by external factors (political and regulatory conditions, socio-economic and technological context, cultural and competitive sectoral dynamics) and by firm-inherent factors (market positioning, core competencies, distinctive resources, innovation, corporate culture, etc.).

The globalization of markets has pushed firms of international standing to consistently adopt “global” strategies. Among the different forms of foreign development, alliances were the privileged form chosen in the 1990s, to the point of being considered as a new form of internationalization. Most of the strategic alliances forged in an international context should be studied within the framework of the theory of firm multinationalization because they constitute an alternative means of commitment to international investment and export.

Finally, there is the discussion about to what extent numerous forms of network territorial organizations (such as clusters) are attractive for multinational firms and encourage inter-firm cooperation. ...