중소기업의 기술개발 성과를 촉진하는 정부R&D지원 선행요인에 관한 연구

Abstract

This study explores the recent rising importance of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and the resulting rise in government support for SMEs. The study first identifies factors which could increase government research and development (R&D) support for SMEs and subsequently verifies the causal relationship between the efficacy of technological development, government R&D support and SMEs’ own R&D investments, which all impact the performance of technological development. Then it verifies, the mediative role of government R&D support in the impact of the independent variables, initial R&D investment and technical readiness level (TRL), on the performance of technological development. To achieve this, performance reports and online surveys were conducted on SMEs, of the regional manufacturing technology industry that completed R&D projects with benefits from government R&D support. SMEs participating in the investigation were limited to one report and one online survey per enterprise, which were to be submitted by either the enterprise’s CEO, technological development manager or marketing director. A total of 219 responses were collected, of which 211 were used for the final analysis due to 8 unreliable responses. The results of the empirical analysis are as follows. First, the initial R&D investment was found to have no significant impact on the efficacy of technology, but the higher the initial R&D investment of SMEs, the higher the market efficacy. These results suggest that even if the infrastructure is strong and the SMEs push for various investments for R&D there is no significant impact on actual efficacy of technology, but instead an increase in market efficacy due to higher expectations for commercialization. Second, the high TRL of SMEs was shown to have a positive effect on technological efficacy but no effect on market efficacy. Such results are due to the high level of technology, which means technical know-how was accumulated. However, a high TRL does not necessarily guarantee commercialization, hence it had no effect on market efficacy. Third, the higher the initial R&D investments in SMEs to develop technologies, the higher the government R&D support. SMEs are only eligible to apply for government-funded projects once they have basic infrastructure for technological development including having necessary equipment and employees. Therefore, SMEs should first invest in the early stages of technological development, as it is difficult to receive government R&D support without having fulfilled the basic criteria. In addition, the greater the SMEs’ initial R&D investment prior to technological development, the greater the motivation to develop technologies and to self-invest in R&D. So, SMEs’ burden of development costs to develop technologies independently is mandatory for making cash investments and spot trading with benefits from government's R&D support. In the early stages of technological development, it is shown that the closer SMEs are to commercialization than basic theory, the greater the government R&D support and their own R&D investments. SMEs with a low TRL inevitably have a low chance of success even if they push for government R&D support. Companies with higher TRLs tend to have a greater motivation and willingness to develop technology and will put in more effort to receive government R&D support by increasing their own R&D investment. Fourth, the results showed that the higher the technological efficacy of SMEs, the higher the government R&D support. But in contrast government R&D support did not increase despite high market efficacy. This is understood to be a result of government R&D support being focused on advancing technological development. In addition, the higher their own R&D investments, the higher the government's R&D support, indicating that SMEs need to prioritize early investments in technological development because it is difficult for SMEs to receive government R&D support if the basic criteria are not met. Fifth, market efficacy, government R&D support, and SMEs’ own R&D investments were found to have significant positive impacts on the performance of technological development, although technological efficacy did not have a significant impact. The results show that the SMEs which received government support and were successful in technological development ultimately resulted in increases in sales and jobs through commercialization, rather than direct technological development. Finally, initial R&D investments and TRL both affect the performance of technological development by mediating government R&D support. This further emphasizes the importance of initial R&D investments for establishing the SME’s infrastructure, such as initial facilities and securing manpower, in order to improve the performance of technological development. Such results are due to the SMEs’ investments and interest in technological development and willingness to develop technology.