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This work deals with the problem of MNC (Multinational Companies) seeking a location as a source of new knowledge. As clusters concentrate geographically knowledge-intensive, innovative, and entrepreneurial activities, MNC likely locates in these clusters for network externalities (Marshall, 1920; Mudambi, 2008). Entry mode must be chosen between keeping (acquisition) or sharing control (venture) of the local subsidiaries. It must also decide to build a new plant (greenfield or greenfield venture). An acquisition is also preferred when the investor want to acquire new technological knowledge for example a product’s manufacturing process.
Agglomerations or clusters are places where close inter-firm communication, socio-cultural structures and institutional environment may stimulate socially and territorially embedded collective learning and continuous innovation. Much of the regional capability found in clusters is rooted in inter-firm networking, inter-personal connections, local learning processes and knowledge embedded in social interaction (Malmberg, 1997). The most valuable knowledge includes a high degree of tacit knowledge (Polanyj, 1958). It is generally not possible to transfer it through codification and de-codification (Ancori et al., 2000). Tacit knowledge can only be transmitted by peers and is embedded in communities of practice (Brown & Duguid, 1991). MNCs must become part of these communities in order to access this kind of knowledge (Lam 1997; Jenkins & Tallman, 2010). The fact that this knowledge is embedded in the tacit knowledge structures and work system makes it difficult to successfully transfer since it first requires the adaptation and integration of routines and organisational practices, allowing the knowledge linked to various functions (production, marketing, design…) to be transferred and exploited. Tallman and Chacar (2011) described the direct transfer mechanisms of this type of knowledge integrated within a local context, identifying the duality between specific and architectural knowledge (Matusik & Hill, 1998; Tallman et al., 2004). Tallman and Chacar (2011) and Nooteboom (2000) argued that to directly transfer architectural and specific knowledge, it is essential to initially share a certain degree of architectural knowledge. The transfer of specific knowledge is then conditioned by prior sharing of practices and routines (Cohen & Levinthal, 1990) in the MNC (Lam, 1997).
As the transfer of perfectly codified explicit knowledge is well known and does not pose a problem, the present paper examines the transfer of specific tacit knowledge incorporated in the structure of knowledges of local partners. In order to take the most general case possible into account, this specific knowledge is also considered as embedded within the architectural knowledge (e.g., in organisational practices or routines). In other words, specific knowledge can only be used if there is prior sharing of a minimum degree of architectural knowledge between an MNC and cluster (Pinch et al., 2003). Distance between firms plays an important role in the process of knowledge transfer (Cantwell and Zhang, 2011; Werker et al., 2016). The empirical study of Choudhury (2017) highlights the importance of geographical distance for MNC since intrafirm mobility facilitates transfer of knowledge and innovation outcome. Werker et al. (2016) suggest that personal proximity affects the formation, maintenance and output of collaborations. All these distances between an MNC and the localization, as well as its local partners, offer a good indication of the way the architectural and technological knowledge is shared (Knoben & Oerlemans; 2006, Boschma, 2005).