Table 2 Parameters in the model

L₁: External knowledge source

K

Initial value of L₁

K (0)

R₁₁: Inflow rate of establishing external knowledge

K/month

a₁₁₁: Technology gap

K

a₁₁₂: Knowledge gap

K

a₁₁₃: Average external knowledge level

K

a₁₁₄: Influential factor of knowledge gap

1 (0–3)

a₁₁₅: Organizational difference

1 (1–5)

a₁₁₆: Physical distance

1 (1–5)

a₁₁₇: Trust level

1 (1–5)

a₁₁₈: Time spent in founding an external knowledge network

Month (3–36)

R₁₂: Outflow rate of knowledge absorption

K/month

L₂: Knowledge storage

K

Initial value of knowledge storage

K (100)

R₂₁: Inflow rate of knowledge absorption

K/month

a₂₁₁: R&D investment

K/month

a₂₁₂: Knowledge diversity

1 (1–5)

a₂₁₃: Experience

1 (1–5)

a₂₁₄: Activation trigger

1 (1–5)

R₂₂: Inflow rate of knowledge creation

K/month

R₂₃: Outflow rate of outdated knowledge

K/month

a₂₃₁: Knowledge existing period

Month

a₂₃₂: Average knowledge existing period

Month

a₂₃₃: Influential factor of market demand to knowledge existing period

1 (0–3)

a₂₃₄: Market demand of different stage of product life cycle

K

L₃: Technology innovation achievements

K

Initial value of technology innovation achievements

K (100)

R₃₁: Inflow rate of technology innovation

K/month

a₃₁₁: Social integration mechanisms

1 (1–5)

a₃₁₂: Incentive systems

1 (1–5)

a₃₁₃: Power relationship

1 (1–5)

R₃₂: Outflow rate of outdated technology

K/month

a₃₂₁: Technology existing time

Month

a₃₂₂: Base R&D investment

K

a₃₂₃: R&D period

Month (6–60)

Potential absorptive capacity (PACAP)

K/month

Realized absorptive capacity (RACAP)

K/month