Innovation and Intellectual Capital: Factors for Business Survival
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4067/s0718-2724202600025042Keywords:
Intellectual capital, Business survival, Product innovation, Colombian manufacturing industry, Mediation analysisAbstract
The objective of this research is to analyze whether intellectual capital and product innovation are significant factors in the survival of Colombian manufacturing companies. So, the research question to answer is: How do intellectual capital and innovation contribute to business survival in Colombian manufacturing? This study employed a quantitative, correlational, and causal approach. It analyzed 7,529 Colombian manufacturing companies that participated in the Technological Development and Innovation Survey, conducted by the National Administrative Department of Statistics. The findings indicate that employees with higher educational levels are more likely to foster product innovation and intellectual property, thereby strengthening the company’s innovative capacity and survival over the analyzed periods. Additionally, structural capital, particularly in marketing and design processes, shows a negative relationship with intellectual property registrations, and excessive focus on creativity without strategic integration also can negatively affect business sustainability. Contrary to the Resource-Based View, the mediation effect of innovation on the relationship between intellectual capital and business survival was not statistically significant. This result may be explained by weaknesses in innovation management and organizational culture, as well as limitations in implementing innovations. The conclusions highlight the importance of developing training programs to generate new organizational knowledge. The findings also contribute to the formulation of new public policies that, through tax incentives, subsidies, and access to credit, promote Research and Development and boost the registration of patents and intellectual property. This study is limited by its focus on a two-period window, which prevents an analysis of more dynamic long-term.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Youseline Hernandez, Javier Francisco Rueda Galvis , Albeiro Beltrán Diaz, Lina Rosenda Bonilla Rueda

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