Capital Structure Decisions in Swedish Biotechnology Firms: The Role of Intellectual Capital and Innovation Activities

Biotechnology firms operate in a highly innovative and capital-intensive environment, characterized by high levels of R&D, long product development periods, significant regulations, and high levels of uncertainty. These firms rely heavily on intangible assets, such as intellectual capital and in...

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Main Authors: Kritthana Kimuam, Björn Berggren, Ida Ayu Agung Faradynawati
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:International Journal of Financial Studies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/1/43
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author Kritthana Kimuam
Björn Berggren
Ida Ayu Agung Faradynawati
author_facet Kritthana Kimuam
Björn Berggren
Ida Ayu Agung Faradynawati
author_sort Kritthana Kimuam
collection DOAJ
description Biotechnology firms operate in a highly innovative and capital-intensive environment, characterized by high levels of R&D, long product development periods, significant regulations, and high levels of uncertainty. These firms rely heavily on intangible assets, such as intellectual capital and innovation. Consequently, intellectual capital and innovation activities play a crucial role in financial strategies and capital structure decisions. This study aims to examine how intellectual capital and innovation activity influence capital structure decisions of biotech firms in Sweden. In this paper, financial data of 1528 companies from 2012 to 2022 were analyzed. Using logistic regression modeling, the results showed that biotech firms with higher intellectual capital are more likely to issue equity whereas those with greater innovation activity tend to rely more on debt financing. These findings underscore the complexities of financial strategy in the biotech sector, emphasizing the need for flexible capital structure management. Moreover, policymakers should focus not only on equity availability but also on ensuring access to debt financing, as both are crucial for sustaining biotech innovation and growth.
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publishDate 2025-03-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
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spelling doaj-art-36f22e6744d949a3ba09f349705a45762025-08-20T01:49:04ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Financial Studies2227-70722025-03-011314310.3390/ijfs13010043Capital Structure Decisions in Swedish Biotechnology Firms: The Role of Intellectual Capital and Innovation ActivitiesKritthana Kimuam0Björn Berggren1Ida Ayu Agung Faradynawati2Department of Real Estate and Construction Management, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Real Estate and Construction Management, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Real Estate and Construction Management, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 10044 Stockholm, SwedenBiotechnology firms operate in a highly innovative and capital-intensive environment, characterized by high levels of R&D, long product development periods, significant regulations, and high levels of uncertainty. These firms rely heavily on intangible assets, such as intellectual capital and innovation. Consequently, intellectual capital and innovation activities play a crucial role in financial strategies and capital structure decisions. This study aims to examine how intellectual capital and innovation activity influence capital structure decisions of biotech firms in Sweden. In this paper, financial data of 1528 companies from 2012 to 2022 were analyzed. Using logistic regression modeling, the results showed that biotech firms with higher intellectual capital are more likely to issue equity whereas those with greater innovation activity tend to rely more on debt financing. These findings underscore the complexities of financial strategy in the biotech sector, emphasizing the need for flexible capital structure management. Moreover, policymakers should focus not only on equity availability but also on ensuring access to debt financing, as both are crucial for sustaining biotech innovation and growth.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/1/43biotechnologyintellectual capitalinnovation activitycapital structureSweden
spellingShingle Kritthana Kimuam
Björn Berggren
Ida Ayu Agung Faradynawati
Capital Structure Decisions in Swedish Biotechnology Firms: The Role of Intellectual Capital and Innovation Activities
International Journal of Financial Studies
biotechnology
intellectual capital
innovation activity
capital structure
Sweden
title Capital Structure Decisions in Swedish Biotechnology Firms: The Role of Intellectual Capital and Innovation Activities
title_full Capital Structure Decisions in Swedish Biotechnology Firms: The Role of Intellectual Capital and Innovation Activities
title_fullStr Capital Structure Decisions in Swedish Biotechnology Firms: The Role of Intellectual Capital and Innovation Activities
title_full_unstemmed Capital Structure Decisions in Swedish Biotechnology Firms: The Role of Intellectual Capital and Innovation Activities
title_short Capital Structure Decisions in Swedish Biotechnology Firms: The Role of Intellectual Capital and Innovation Activities
title_sort capital structure decisions in swedish biotechnology firms the role of intellectual capital and innovation activities
topic biotechnology
intellectual capital
innovation activity
capital structure
Sweden
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7072/13/1/43
work_keys_str_mv AT kritthanakimuam capitalstructuredecisionsinswedishbiotechnologyfirmstheroleofintellectualcapitalandinnovationactivities
AT bjornberggren capitalstructuredecisionsinswedishbiotechnologyfirmstheroleofintellectualcapitalandinnovationactivities
AT idaayuagungfaradynawati capitalstructuredecisionsinswedishbiotechnologyfirmstheroleofintellectualcapitalandinnovationactivities