This study aims to investigate the impact of R&D intensity on operational efficiency and strategic alliances in medium-sized companies. Specifically, it seeks to understand how these variables interact to influence a firm's commitment to research and development activities, ultimately affecting their innovation and market performance. A cross-sectional design was employed, with a sample of 230 participants drawn from medium-sized companies. The sample size was determined using the Morgan and Krejcie table. Data were collected through structured questionnaires assessing R&D intensity, operational efficiency, and strategic alliances. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships between the dependent variable (R&D intensity) and each independent variable (operational efficiency and strategic alliances). Linear regression analysis was performed to explore the combined effect of the independent variables on R&D intensity. All analyses were conducted using SPSS version 27. Pearson correlation coefficients indicated significant positive relationships between R&D intensity and operational efficiency (r = 0.53, p = 0.001), and between R&D intensity and strategic alliances (r = 0.47, p = 0.002). The regression analysis showed that operational efficiency and strategic alliances together explain 40% of the variance in R&D intensity (R² = 0.40, F(2, 227) = 19.25, p = 0.000). Multivariate regression results confirmed that both operational efficiency (B = 0.07, β = 0.42, p = 0.001) and strategic alliances (B = 1.10, β = 0.35, p = 0.000) are significant predictors of R&D intensity. The study concludes that operational efficiency and strategic alliances significantly enhance R&D intensity in medium-sized companies. These findings suggest that improving operational processes and fostering strategic partnerships are critical for increasing a firm's investment in research and development. The results are consistent with previous research and provide valuable insights for both academia and industry practitioners. Future research should consider longitudinal designs and explore additional variables to further understand these relationships.
