This article shows the strategic relevance of a multinational group subsidiary in the auto parts industry. The research included a single case study, social network analysis and interviews with managers in order to examine a network of inventors and patents for the Sabó Group in the period between 1978 and 2008. The article presents a brief review of the literature concerning international business and the strategic relevance of multinational subsidiaries, the role of networks, and the issue of competencies and knowledge in subsidiaries. The study starts by mapping the whole network (headquarters and subsidiaries) - from patents and inventors (actors) towards the Sabó Group -, investigating the relationships through social network analysis (SNA). The strategic relevance of the subsidiary is emphasized by the company's overall strategy. This article examines the core competencies developed by the subsidiary and the network metrics, emphasizing the role of key actors (the most central) and how they act as brokers in the network.
social network analysis; patents; subsidiaries; internationalization
