Technology convergence and intercompany R&D collaboration: Across business ecosystems boundaries

Technology-based industry convergence brings forth new competence-destroying technologies, increases product complexity and drives companies to enter into collaborative R&D arrangements outside their current business ecosystems. The technology-based convergence context is classified as technology substitution and technology integration convergence types, and requires new collaborative competencies spanning business ecosystems that are not identified in the current literature. This paper explores the critical success factors (CSFs) of inter-company R&D collaboration in different types of convergence projects. The study finds that the convergence types are differentiated by their focal areas: product features, relative product advantage and market need orientation. We further discuss the important CSFs of the convergence types and provide insights for managers in our results.