Interfirm networks include franchising, retail and service chains, cooperatives, financial networks, joint ventures, strategic alliances, licensing, public-private partnerships and new network forms in the digital economy. This book gathers the latest research studies that approach these networks – and the creation of innovation under the conditions of a complex, dynamic, knowledge-intensive and digital economy – from an interdisciplinary perspective. 

The studies, all of which were written by respected experts, explore how firms can improve their competitiveness by securing access to innovation, knowledge, complementary resources and capabilities otherwise not available to them. In addition, they highlight how, driven by an unpredictable environment, firms embedded in inter-organizational networks are increasingly transforming from co-operators to collaborators and valuable co-creators of innovation.  

George Hendrikse is full professor in Economics of Organizations at the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University (Netherlands). His research and teaching focus is on the internal and industrial organization of enterprises, with a special interest in cooperatives. He has published 15 books, more than 125 scholarly articles, and supervised 14 PhD theses.

Marijana Srećković is senior scientist at the Department of Industrial Building and Interdisciplinary Planning, Vienna University of Technology (TU Wien,  Austria). She holds a PhD in Social and Economic Sciences from TU Wien, and her current research deals with innovation and networks, capabilities, and business models in the digital economy.

Josef Windsperger is professor of Organization and Management at the University of Vienna (Austria). His research and teaching focus is on the governance of interfirm networks and strategy of the international firm. His major publications are in economics and management of networks, such as franchising, joint ventures and clusters, and the theory of the firm.