Abstract: In the context of all-round opening and innovation driving, Chinese enterprises have greeted the new opportunities of establishing their overseas R&D research centers. This article constructs an analytical framework to analyze the factors affecting the enterprises in choosing their modes when establishing their overseas R&D centers from the three dimensions of enterprise, the host country and technology on the basis of the open innovation theory, the international production eclectic theory and the knowledge transfer theory. The empirical findings show that such factors as the self motivation and technical capability of the enterprises of the home country, the innovation network and market resources of the host country, and the capability of technology transmission have significant influence on the choice of modes of establishing the overseas R&D centers by the enterprises. This conclusion can not only expand the analytical framework of overseas R&D investment from the perspective of the late-coming countries, but also provide references for Chinese enterprises to choose proper mode for the establishing of their overseas R&D centers.

Key words: overseas R&D center; establishing mode; affecting factors; FDI