Abstract
The development of complex and innovative system technologies is increasingly carried out in inter-organizational networks. However, there are also serious downsides inherent in developing system technology in networks. System technologies consist of a multitude of components and are only viable, if all critical components are functional. When the responsibility for the capital-intensive development of these critical components is dispersed over many different suppliers, the risk is high that some critical suppliers may lack the financial resources to come up with the necessary technology in time and, thereby, threaten the future of the entire technology. However, despite the abundance of literature on innovating complex system technologies (e.g. Garud et al. 2002), the critical aspect of financing such endeavours within innovation networks (Freeman, 1991) has hardly been analyzed. Therefore, in this paper, we analyse an empirical case based on 60 expert interviews so far - the development of a new system technology for manufacturing microchips - to explore this underresearched topic. Guiding research questions are: 1. What specific financing opportunities do innovation networks offer and what specific financing problems do they face? 2. How do members of R&D networks engage collectively in financing network suppliers of critical system components that are short of financial resources? 3. How do key members of the innovation network take the lead and organize for securing sufficient financial resources?