162508 20251017144626.0 doi 10.1108/BJM-09-2020-0348 sideral 127154 ART-2021-127154 eng Ramírez-Alesón, M. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-9758-0149 Which intermediate import source is best for innovation in MNEs? 2021 Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted Purpose: This paper explores the importance of the importing intensity for different intermediate inputs depending on their source (internal sourcing or intra-firm trade versus external sourcing or foreign suppliers) for different types of innovation (product and process innovation) and applied to MNEs (foreign versus domestic). Design/methodology/approach: The sample contains 2, 448 firm-year observations (2006–2016) of firms located in Spain that belong to an MNE group. The authors applied a conditional mixed process to a panel recursive bivariate probit model with robust standard errors. Findings: The authors obtained three key results. First, intermediate imports do not always contribute to improving innovation, since their effects vary depending on their source. Second, intermediate imports from foreign suppliers (external source) are more advantageous for product innovation than those from intra-firm trade (internal source). Third, intermediate imports from intra-firm trade are more important for process innovation than those from foreign suppliers. Thus, the impact of importing intermediate inputs on innovation is contingent on the source of the imports, the ownership of the MNE and the type of innovation. Originality/value: The paper contributes to this topic with new insights and results for MNEs. It identifies which import source is best for innovation depending on the type of innovative result expected. Moreover, it helps to uncover simultaneity and causal relationships between product and process innovation, issues which have not previously been considered in the literature. info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/AEI-FEDER/ECO2016-77-P info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA-FEDER/S52-20R info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by-nc https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.es 2.753 2021 MANAGEMENT 173 / 228 = 0.759 2021 Q4 T3 0.687 2021 Business and International Management 2021 Q2 Strategy and Management 2021 Q2 Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management 2021 Q2 Management of Technology and Innovation 2021 Q2 4.6 2021 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion Fernández-Olmos, M. Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-5623-2391 4012 650 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Direcc.Organiza.Empresas Área Organización de Empresas 16, 4 (2021), 564-581 BALTIC JOURNAL OF MANAGEMENT Baltic Journal of Management 1746-5265 417961 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/162508/files/texto_completo.pdf Postprint 1640294 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/162508/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Postprint oai:zaguan.unizar.es:162508 articulos driver 2025-10-17-14:24:23 ARTICLE