1. How did Sony internationalize its R&D activities? What were the initial motivations for Sony to establish technology centers abroad? How would Kuemmerle categorize the R&D centers at Sony?

• In the early 1950s Sony first started to internationalize its activities as early as the 1950s, in an incremental and cautious way.
• Sony started only exporting product through foreign agencies or its own sales offices when entering foreign markets.
• Overtime Sony moves again incrementally establishing overseas technology centers once the overseas sales and manufacturing subsidiaries were successful.
• The centers were built by their Japanese business divisions/labs or foreign subsidiaries.

The motivation for Sony’s foreign subsidiaries to establish R&D activities is to: o Solve problems faced by local sales and manufacturing activities. o To modify products for local markets and provide technological support to overseas plant

At the early Internalization period Kuemmerle would categorize this as Home-base-exploiting sites because their main goal is to support manufacturing facilities in foreign countries also to adapt local demands in the foreign markets. The information flows to the foreign laboratory from the central lab at home.

However, in the late 1980s and early 1990s it changed towards Home-base-augmenting sites because their goal was to gain knowledge in advanced technology locations. The information flows from the foreign laboratory to the central lab at home.

2. How has the motivation for internationalizing R&D changed over time?

• In the early 1980s the motivation was to solve problems faced by local sales and manufacturing. In addition, to modify products for local markets and provide technological support to overseas plant.
• In the late 1980s Sony motivation was towards gaining knowledge from its foreign subsidiaries.
• In the early