Firm size and innovative performance

This research examines the relationship between firm size and innovative performance, presenting the factors that contribute to variations and heterogeneity in the empirical findings. Utilizing a meta-regression analysis on a body of key international literature published from 1993 to 2017, the study search for insights and common conclusions and their determinants. The findings establish that firm size positively influences innovative performance, but points that this relationship is moderated by several variables. Differences in research results come from how firm size and innovation are defined at the theoretical level, as well as the various ways researchers approach their studies methodologically, the models implemented, and the types of data available and utilized. This comprehensive review offers a detailed understanding of the relationship between firm size and innovation, allowing to show how different aspects of research influence the results obtained, providing a valuable guidance for future research.