We analyze the effects of digitalization and the knowledge acquired through vertical and institutional cooperation across the value chain on the introduction of patents and technological, namely, product and process, innovations in large, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). We study the case of Spain as a digitally competitive economy displaying a relatively low innovation score, a feature reversing the trend observed in most European Union countries. Three empirical scenarios, one for each innovation output, are defined and analyzed following a random-effects probit panel model separately estimated for large firms and SMEs. The sample used in the empirical analysis comprises 1,369 manufacturing firms, out of which 508 are large and 862 SMEs. The empirical results confirmed the importance of digitalization and collaboration across the value chain for all firms, regardless of size. We also observe that the performance of internal R&D activities fosters the introduction of patents and technological innovations across all firms. The main theoretical implications of the empirical results are discussed, and different policy recommendations suggested.

我们分析了数字化以及通过整个价值链的垂直和机构合作获得的知识对引进专利和技术（即产品和工艺）以及大型和中小型企业（SME）创新的影响。我们研究了西班牙作为数字竞争经济体的案例，其创新得分相对较低，这一特征扭转了大多数欧盟国家观察到的趋势。根据分别估计大公司和中小企业的随机效应概率面板模型，定义和分析了三种实证情景，每种情景对应一种创新产出。实证分析的样本包括1,369家制造企业，其中大型企业508家，中小企业862家。实证结果证实了数字化和整个价值链协作对于所有公司（无论规模大小）的重要性。我们还观察到，内部研发活动的绩效促进了所有公司专利和技术创新的引入。讨论了实证结果的主要理论意义，并提出了不同的政策建议。