Abstract: Leading time becomes most significant when considering the growth of a few large technology companies and digital platforms over the past decade. It is importance for firms absorbing transferred-in technologies quickly to keep up with this uncertain and ever-changing industry environment. By focusing on the speed dimension of absorb capcity theory, this study analyzed the relationship between R&D mode and absorption speed. The relationship was empirically tested by Heckman two-stage regression model, along with data collected from 257 high-tech listed companies in China. The results indicated that there was a positive relationship between collaborative R&D and absorption speed, which is more salient when it comes to the higher generality of the external technology. However, the technological did not moderate the relationship between R&D mode and absorption speed significantly. This study showed some management implications for firms making strategies to cope with the complex and changeable technological environment.