Giménez Fernández, Elena MaríaSandulli, Francesco Domenico2023-06-172023-06-1720171366-271610.1080/13662716.2016.1266928https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/18925This study examines the relationship between breadths of two different modes of external knowledge: R&D outsourcing and cooperation. Building upon transaction costs literature and literature on research partner breadth and R&D outsourcing we hypothesize an U-inverted relationship between outsourcing breadth and innovation performance and a complementary relationship between R&D outsourcing and R&D cooperation. The model is tested on a large sample based on CIS survey for Spain. The empirical analysis confirms the U-inverted relationship between outsourcing breadth and innovation but also reveals an interesting result: the complementary effect of R&D cooperation varies with the level of R&D outsourcing breadth and it is not confirmed for low and medium levels of R&D outsourcing breadth. The results have important implications for theory on the selection of different modes of inbound open innovation and for managers and their cooperation and outsourcing strategies.engjournal articlehttps://doi.org/10.1080/13662716.2016.1266928open accessO30O32L24Open innovationCooperation breadthR&D outsourcing breadthInnovative performanceOI combination.Cooperación económicaDesarrollo económicoEmpresas5307.03 Modelos y Teorías del desarrollo Económico5307.04 Estudios del desarrollo Económico5311 Organización y Dirección de Empresas