Finding the 'Boundary Mediators': Network Analysis of the Joint R&D Project between Toyota and Panasonic.

In recent years, there have been an increasing number of cases where a company tried to develop core technology for its own products by conducting joint research with a company in different industries. While, the mechanism for acquiring and absorbing technologies through joint research by companies in different industries remains unclear. Therefore, this paper developed a theoretical framework of this mechanism, created hypotheses, and examined by a data of a joint research conducted by Toyota Motor Corporation and Panasonic Corporation to develop the nickel-hydrogen storage cell. Specifically, this paper analyses the network of inventors who filed patent applications through the joint research. The results indicate that there are 'boundary mediators' who mediated the exchange of technologies between the two companies. There are three types of boundary mediators, characterised by their wide range of technical knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]