Drawing on a multiple case study of acquisitions of UK biopharmaceutical firms, we develop an analytical framework that elucidates how key determinants of the knowledge base of science-based firms and their combinations through M&As interact and affect post-acquisition investment in the target's R&D projects. We show that two factors - the complementarity/similarity of the technology, and the complementarity/similarity of the discovery and development capabilities of the target and acquiring firm - interact to produce different outcomes in terms of investment in the acquired firm's R&D assets and for the local science and technology system.
The purpose of this paper is to study the relationship between changes in relative influence between marketing and R&D and new product performance (NPP). The aim is to theorize and test whether relative influence changes are beneficial for NPP. Design/methodology/approach An international survey was sent out to pharmaceutical companies worldwide, resulting in 106 usable questionnaires from knowledgeable senior managers. A model is estimated that relates recent and historic changes in relative influence to NPP. Findings There is a positive relationship between recent relative influence changes and subsequent NPP. Moreover, this paper finds that having a history of adaptation with respect to relative influence can serve organizations to build up capabilities that, in turn, strengthen the positive effects of recent relative influence changes on NPP. Finally, the paper shows that relative influence changes and integration between marketing and R&D positively affect NPP jointly. Originality/value A core finding, that is quite counterintuitive, is that instability with respect to relative influence changes can help organizations to become more competitive in new product development.
This short paper describes a workshop on “Establishing criteria for an independent 3R-index: Access to 3Rs” and the corporate responsibility of industry for the use of animals in testing. 28 August 2014 Prague, at the World Congress on Alternatives Animal Use in the Life Sciences
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In this project, the AGM R&D team developed and refined the use of a facial scanning rig. The rig is a physical device comprising multiple cameras and lighting that are mounted on scaffolding around a 'scanning volume'. This is an area at which objects are placed before being photographed from multiple angles. The object is typically a person's head, but it can be anything of this approximate size. Software compares the photographs to create a digital 3D recreation - this process is called photogrammetry. The 3D model is then processed by further pieces of software and eventually becomes a face that can be animated inside in Unreal Engine, which is a popular piece of game development software made by the company Epic. This project was funded by Epic's 'Megagrant' system, and the focus of the work is on streamlining and automating the processing pipeline, and on improving the quality of the resulting output. Additional work has been done on skin shaders (simulating the quality of real skin in a digital form) and the use of AI to re/create lifelike hair styles. The R&D work has produced significant savings in regards to the processing time and the quality of facial scans, has produced a system that has benefitted the educational offering of BUas, and has attracted collaborators from the commercial entertainment/simulation industries. This work complements and extends previous work done on the VIBE project, where the focus was on creating lifelike human avatars for the medical industry.
