Technology transfer, collaboration, and co-operation in the R&D innovation increase their importance when firms integrate into the world economy, especially along the global supply chain. By using a specially designed sample of 3,253 Vietnamese young small and mediumsized enterprises in 2010-2013, the article examines the impact of technology transfer and R&D collaboration and co-operation on a firm’s R&D innovation input, and innovation output, along the supply chain. The estimation results indicate that technology transfer collaboration and co-operation are complementary during the innovation process, initiating the application of innovation both in terms of input and output. In addition, R&D collaboration and co-operation are complementary in enhancing the innovation output.