The power of access: international collaboration and the differential adoption of digital technologies

Abstract This study examines the association between international collaboration and web technology adoption by companies in Spanish science and technology parks (STPs). Using data from 847 companies and negative binomial regression models, we test three hypotheses regarding participation in European R&D networks and digital technology adoption. Results confirm that international collaboration is significantly associated with higher web technology adoption, with an average difference of €789 monthly in technology spending. Structural access to international networks is more strongly linked to adoption compared to relational intensity, suggesting diversity of connections outweighs relationship depth. These associations are substantially stronger for conventional web technologies than for smart technologies, highlighting the role of technological complexity in shaping diffusion patterns. The study provides new theoretical insights by identifying threshold effects and technological heterogeneity, suggesting that integrative frameworks must incorporate nonlinearities and specific moderators when combining social network theory and innovation diffusion. Practical implications indicate differentiated strategies: international networking for conventional technologies and complementary internal capability development for smart technologies. For STP managers, results support policies facilitating initial access to European networks rather than intensifying existing collaborations. For policymakers, documented technological spillovers justify investments in international collaboration programs, though requiring complementary instruments for complex technologies. Limitations include cross-sectional design and measurement of formal collaborations only, opening opportunities for future longitudinal research with mixed methodologies.