ABSTRACT
In the last twenty years foreign technological activity has been continuously increasing in all developed western countries, though at different rates. In its various articulations—patenting, R&D, co-operative agreements—it represents perhaps the most distinctive element of the internationalization process that is typical of big multinationals’ modern strategy. In spite of the relevance of the phenomenon and the huge literature, our knowledge is very limited, especially on foreign patenting and R&D.
