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Purpose: The springboard theory for multinational enterprises and the upward spiral model address the expansion of emerging countries' multinational enterprises (MNEs) abroad as a set of resource-building stages. This paper aims to analyze this model by qualifying knowledge flows in three domains: learning effects, transfer flows and global connections. Design/methodology/approach: The authors use 2018 data from the ORBIS database to identify evidence concerning the springboard MNE (SMNE) phenomenon. The authors select MNE firms from 93 emerging economies with presence in 71 developed and 93 developing countries. In addition, the authors differentiate between the levels of technological intensity of emerging market MNEs' sectors. Findings: The results highlight the existence of learning processes taking place in subsidiaries and feeding back into parent firms, as well as the existence of capability transfer from home to host units. Originality/value: The main contribution is the addition of empirical evidence on the SMNE and specifically the upward spiral model, considering the micro-level and the productivity differences between parent firm and subsidiaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior evidence confirms the existence of a close relationship between home-country characteristics and knowledge-related arguments in the explanation of M&A outflows. This contribution bridges the gap between national systems of innovation (NSIs) and emerging multinationals (EMNE) literature for operationalising a bilateral learning process resulting from the link between a process of internationalisation (as followed by firms from emerging economies) and the generation of two interactive processes: domestic learning and learning abroad. The combination of them may generate positive synergies that reinforce the use of M&As by EMNE over other forms of internationalisation. The empirical analysis is built from factor analysis and cluster, and dynamic panel data methodology for a sample of 78 countries, including both developed and developing economies. With empirical analysis we demonstrate how M&A outflows may compensate for domestic weaknesses in less-advanced home NSIs through technological catch-up, and how inward foreign direct investment has contributed a positive influence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Empirical studies have consistently illustrated the existence of a relationship between the level of productivity and the international commitment of firms. Few studies have considered the effects of learning by foreign direct investment (FDI). We use a sample of Spanish manufacturing firms to analyze the effect that the multinational enterprise status of a firm has on its ex-post innovative performance and productivity. Our findings reveal dynamic positive effects of FDI on the technological performance of firms, with increments in patents and product innovation taking place before subsequent increments in productivity occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature about the drivers of eco-innovation has pointed out the importance of internationalization processes. This study explores the relationship between two international strategies -Exports and Outward Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)- over eco-innovations differentiating by type of innovation (product and process) and the degree of novelty (radical and incremental). We use a sample of Spanish Manufacturing firms, applying GMM estimations in the period 2008–2016. Results show different effects of learning by internationalization depending on the mode of internationalization and the type of eco-innovation. Specifically, effects of outward FDI for the different types of eco-innovations are lower and take longer to materialize in eco-innovations than exports effects. • There is a process of learning by internationalization that boost eco-innovations. • Exports have more effects on eco-innovations distinguishing by degree of novelty. • Effects of learning by FDI take longer to affect eco-innovations than by exports. • Time is relevant to analyze the link of Internationalization and Eco-innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]