Open innovation (OI) is currently being applied as a new mode for firms to utilise both internal and external resources for R&D and new product developments. Investigating the impact of OI on China's high-tech firms is becoming increasingly important. Under the guidance of China's national innovation policy and the rise of innovation in high-tech industries, OI is regarded as having a positive impact on the competitiveness of Chinese firms and as bringing a significant innovation outcome. By utilising and integrating external knowledge and resources, OI can promote high-tech firms' R&D development in China's current transitional environment. A key objective of this thesis is to examine the overall relationship between locational factors, ambidexterity in OI and innovation performance given absorptive capacity (ACAP). The thesis reviews the current literature regarding OI, ambidexterity in OI, the cluster effect and ACAP and then integrates these lenses to build links for constructing a new model of the research. This includes the relationships between locational factors, ambidexterity in OI and innovation performance. It also examines the moderating effect of ACAP and, more importantly, the mediation effect of ambidexterity in OI on the relationship between locational factors and innovation performance. The findings of the thesis reveal that locational factors positively affect ambidexterity in OI, while ACAP positively moderates the relationship between the two factors. In addition, ambidexterity in OI - an optimal combination of inbound and outbound OI - can significantly influence innovation performance and is crucial to the ambidextrous conduction of firms. ACAP also positively moderates the relationship between ambidexterity in OI and innovation performance. Finally, ambidexterity in OI can mediate the relationship between locational factors and innovation performance, and ACAP moderates the overall relationship between locational factors, ambidexterity in OI and innovation performance. This thesis makes a number of contributions to the existing OI literature. First, building on the cluster perspective, the thesis contributes to the literature on OI by recognising the influence of locational factors on the balance in OI. The examination of ACAP also contributes to the literature by highlighting the contingent value of ACAP on the relationship between locational factors and the balance in OI. Second, the thesis contributes to the OI literature by bringing a greater conceptual clarity to the view of balance. A more balanced portfolio can bring better innovation performance than those that are less balanced. The thesis also enriches the knowledge in the relationship between the balance in OI and innovation performance, which demonstrates the moderating effect of ACAP on this relationship. Third, the study conceptualises the balance in OI that mediates the relationship between locational factors and innovation performance. It is a key contribution to the existing OI literature by advancing our understanding of the overall relationship among locational factors, the balance in OI and innovation performance.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to find out what activities of ambidexterity impact start-up companies’ efficiency and business growth in Sweden’s market.Methodology: To understand the research objectives, a qualitative study with 10 in-depth and semi-structured interviews was conducted with startup companies, founders and managers to gain insights.Findings: This study identified two new constructs; environmental dynamism and company nature, that are novel to measure ambidexterity start-up business performance.Research limitations/implications: The focus on Swedish startups limits the transferability. Therefore, future research should be conducted in other countries or in different context settings.Originality/value: This study contributes to the entrepreneurial research proposing proactive and reactive engagement with clients and contributes to strategic leadership theory, identifying that organization such as self-learning and collaboration fosters innovation among employees