Explanatory factors for participation in formal standardization processes: Empirical evidence at firm level

In contrast to the long tradition of empirical research into the innovation activities of companies, the issue of standardization has been analyzed mostly in theoretical approaches. This paper performs an empirical analysis of the participation of German companies in standardization development organizations. It becomes clear that comany size has a significant effect o the probability of a participation in standardization positively and the R&D intensity negatively, whereas export activities are ambivalent. These results are compared with a former analysis based on sectoral data, which takes into account other actors in the standardization process, like research organizations, consumers and other stakeholders.