The Effect of Innovation Cooperation on Innovation Performance of Start-Ups in Vietnam

Collaboration and partnership with other entities in the start-up ecosystem can be a game-changer for a start-up’s success. It is not uncommon for start-ups to seek collaborations with leading industry players to increase their chances of innovation success, which is a crucial factor in their survival and growth in today’s competitive market. Through partnerships, start-ups can increase their value proposition, save costs, and utilize available resources, including funding, mentorship, and expertise. This research provides valuable insights and implications for Vietnam start-up founders considering adopting innovation cooperation strategies. In particular, this study focuses on product innovation as the dependent variable and examines the effects of innovation cooperation and internal R&D intensity on the product innovation of Vietnam start-ups. The empirical results suggest that investing in internal R&D alone may not be enough to guarantee success in product innovation. However, the study finds a robust positive effect of innovation cooperation, measured by co-patent cooperation in R&D and manufacturing, on product innovation.