Varied university-industry knowledge transfer channels and product innovation performance in Guangdong manufacturing firms.

This study aims to investigate the extent to which Chinese firms engage in varied university-industry knowledge transfer channels and the impact on product innovation performance. Data was collected on 14 distinct types of channels used by manufacturing firms located at the centre of the pearl river delta in Guangdong Province of China. Our results revealed that varied channels has a curvilinear relationship with product innovation. Moreover, it exhibits a curvilinear moderating effect on internal R&D capability–innovation relationship. It negatively moderates R&D capability–innovation relationship at low range of varied channels, but the negative moderating effect weakens as the range increases and eventually is converted to a positive one after the range reaches a turning point. The findings furthered our understanding on varied university-industry knowledge transfer channels and the associated innovation benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]