How R & D is coordinated in Japanese and European multinationals

What are the suitable forms and mechanisms for the coordination of internat ional R&D and innovation processes in multinational corporations? This pape r sets out to answer this question by exploratory research and interviews i n 18 European and Japanese companies. As a conceptual background, four diff erent categories of coordination mechanisms are generated ('structural', 'h ybrid', 'informat' and 'internal markets'). The empirical results show that Japanese companies make intensive use of personal contacts, informal commu nication and socialisation whereas European enterprises rely more on intern al markets in R&D.