Abstract
In this paper, I propose and examine a specific means by which firm R&D
experience may help firms to improve their current-technology products: Firms
that conduct future-technology R&D may be better at adapting components from
related future technologies for use in their current-technology products. I use
patent data to test whether automobile carburetor suppliers with higher levels
of future-technology R&D activity are better at adapting components from related
future technologies for use in carburetors.