Critical factors for success in university-industry research projects

This study provides insight into the reality of university-industry technology transfer through the assessment of some of the most influential factors for success or failure in research contracts. This widespread mechanism of technology transfer is examined in the light of exhaustive information and experience gathered from 30 interviews with qualified university researchers. The interviewees, who have been directly involved in collaborative projects with industry partners, have deeply described both sound and unsatisfactory cooperation cases, in order to explore which relevant circumstances have led to success or failure. The analysis drives to conclude that there are some features (beyond technological ones) related to the corporate partner's strategic and functional characteristics, which come to be decisive for success. For example, company's real interest and involvement during the technology transfer process, its capacity to assimilate new knowledge and a confident attitude towards the university research group are identified to be key elements for attaining an effective technology transfer. In this contribution, the importance of these aspects is contextualised and summarised in a model for successful technology transfer

University-industry collaboration: a case study of a research programme

University–industry collaborations are widely seen as an important mode of institutional interaction and technology transfer. Although there is now a considerable amount of research concerning this phenomena, there are surprisingly few inner studies of collaboration programmes between a university and a firm. The present work presents the results of a study of a large research programme that involved the collaboration of a university and a local branch of a large multinational firm that manufactures electronic components for the automotive sector. The research strategy is based on a qualitative case study approach. Data collection was made through secondary sources and through extended interviews with people at three hierarchy levels of the collaboration. The interview questions and themes were based on selected factors that the literature referred as affecting positively or negatively the research collaborations between university and industry. The aim was to confirm the hypothesis advanced by the literature and/or identify additional factors that could be important determinants of the relationship. The results seem to show that factors like communication, team spirit, researchers’ recognition, institutional bureaucracy and organizational issues may be elements which can alter or improve the collaboration.FCT -Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia(undefined

The evolution of university-industry linkages-A framework

This qualitative study extends literature on research commercialization by examining the dynamic nature of university-industry linkages (UIL). Thirty in-depth interviews conducted in Australia and Germany/the Netherlands provide evidence of the different phases through which UILs evolve and respective measures of success. Communication, understanding, trust, and people are universal drivers, yet managers must consider the variations in the nature of these factors to ensure successful UILs. This study equips managers involved in technology transfer, innovation, and commercialization with critical insights into developing effective relationships. The proposed conceptual framework also uncovers notable theoretical and managerial implications and offers some key research directions. © 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Carolin Plewa, Nisha Korff, Claire Johnson, Gregory Macpherson, Thomas Baaken, Giselle Camille Rampersa

On collaboration between academia and practice for research and innovation: A pilot study for BillerudKorsnäs

Collaboration between academia and industry is believed important for innovation: industry needs academic expertise and know-how and academics need empirical data, test beds and more. So what needs to be improved? A pilot study conducted for BillerudKorsnäs confirms findings in previous research: the main challenge to industry-academia collaboration is the lack of mutual understanding of each other’s needs, expectations and output. However, despite the clear importance of mutual understanding, there are few suggestions in the literature how to improve the situation beyond checklists for collaboration. The pilot study addresses issues of how to find sharp research tasks that are relevant to both parties, how to bridge cultural differences and different demands, and what kind of interaction model to aim for? Based on a literature review, interviews with accomplished academics at Lund University and practitioners from BillerudKorsnäs, the conclusions drawn in summary are: • Finding a good research builds on mutual understanding of different needs, combining industry problems with issues relevant for developing the greater knowledge base (theory). • Bridging cultural and other differences is best done through a greater “understanding of each other’s worlds,” spending time together, building trust, and improving communication through key persons from both sides who play the role of “translators” or “liaison officers.” • Finding the best interaction model (i.e. PhD, consortia etc) requires time and other resources to address needs, research goals and expectations, team members, responsibilities, and not least: deliverables. There is no one model, but as a general rule, long-term strategic collaboration efforts are found more fruitful based on an equal partner approach where learning is at the core. Furthermore, the authors of the study suggest that an important step forward, for a firm who wishes to collaborate with academia, is to develop a visual tool to facilitate mutual understanding. Drawing from previous and more recent findings, one such tool could be a further development of the so-called Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) model, or other generic models for project, process, or product development

Developing and Managing University-Industry Research Collaborations through a Process Methodology/Industrial Sector Approach.

A management framework has been successfully utilized at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom to improve the process for developing and managing university-industry research collaborations. The framework has been part of a systematic approach to increase the level of research contracts from industrial sources, to strengthen the university’s academic base, and to diversify the provision of research at the university. This management approach is composed of two main platforms of activity: an industrial sector or channel focus (sector platform) and structured management methodologies to facilitate the research collaboration process (process platform). Application of this combined management framework through an engineering program case study at the university helped to significantly increase the university’s industrially funded research portfolio in the aerospace and defense sector. Evaluation of the framework against comparative models for collaboration revealed that the management system provides a broad coverage of knowledge, social and financial or cost-based factors. The framework has been demonstrated as a suitable tool for research administration staff and those involved with initiating and managing research collaborations

FATORES CRÍTICOS DA TRANSFERÊNCIA DE CONHECIMENTO ENTRE UNIVERSIDADE E EMPRESA (U-E)

O objetivo da pesquisa foi o de identificar os fatores críticos da transferência de conhecimento (TC) entre uma universidade pública brasileira e suas empresas parceiras e analisar como eles influenciaram no desempenho do processo. A revisão teórica contemplou discussão sobre os fatores que, de acordo com a literatura na área, influenciam de forma decisiva na TC entre U-E. Em termos metodológicos, foi realizada pesquisa qualitativa com base no método de estudo de caso instrumental, sendo analisados dois projetos desenvolvidos entre uma universidade pública brasileira e suas empresas parceiras a partir de 14 entrevistas e documentos secundários. Os resultados revelam que dois fatores foram decisivos para a TC: o relacionamento estabelecido entre a universidade e empresas parceiras, e as características do professor (o seu know-how e a sua motivação para a TC). Enquanto o relacionamento contribuiu para minimizar a percepção de distância cultural entre U-E, o know-how dos professores tornou a parceria atrativa sob a ótica da empresa

Resource-based view of university-industry research collaboration

Abstract--University-industry research collaboration offers both parties involved recognised benefits. Universities can secure funding for students and researchers, whereas companies can gain access to science and technology to incorporate in improved products. The performance of such collaborations can be closely related to the resources available to the collaborating organisations. Therefore, this paper will examine how university-industry research collaborations can be developed and managed through applying the key concepts of the resource-based view of strategy. The research method is composed of two stages. The first stage involved a series of 32 structured interviews with representatives from companies and the academic sector, which sought to ascertain the resources required for successful university-industry collaborations. Qualitative assessment of the resources according to either being tangible, intangible or human related identified the capabilities required to underpin collaborations between universities and companies. The second stage involved a case study application of these capabilities to a major university-industry research programme. The case study investigation involved reflective analysis of how the resources and capabilities were configured and deployed during the development and management phases of the programme. This allows generation of a set of practitioner oriented recommendations for establishing university-industry collaborations

Managing university-industry research partnerships through a process of alignment

University-industry research partnerships provide a mechanism for enhanced knowledge transfer thereby contributing to improved technology development within industry as well as providing a secure source of research funding at universities. However, misalignment of objectives, difficulties in the negotiation of research contracts, and challenges arising from research co-ordination are just some of the issues that can be encountered. Therefore, following a review of the literature a management framework has been developed to help practitioners manage these issues. The framework is based on the need for alignment in three core areas, namely technical, commercial and social. The alignment mechanism will be explored through case study investigations of three research partnerships, which included two successful partnerships and one that encountered difficulties. The case studies will be compared and contrasted to help identify management strategies and supporting activities that can be undertaken to underpin the development and subsequent management of university-industry research partnerships. The findings include a need for clear leadership of partnerships including boundary spanning; robust commercial arrangements including the allocation of intellectual property rights; effective governance mechanisms and performance measurement; and the significance of companies’ absorptive capacity

The roles of universities in knowledge-based urban development: A critical review

Universities are increasingly recognised as key actors in the knowledge-based urban development process, occupying a crucial role of knowledge creators and transmitters. This paper takes a critical view of these roles and reviews the extant literature to present a synopsis of relevant work examining universities and open innovation, the uncertainties involved in the process of knowledge transfer, and the spatial scope of university-industry links. The paper proposes a number of areas for future development: understanding the heterogeneity of universities and how this influences their potential roles in knowledge-based urban development; a better understanding of how uncertainties in the partner selection process may prevent efficient university-industry collaboration to promote knowledge-based urban development; further exploration of the micro-level processes involved in knowledge transfer between universities and firms; and a broader understanding of the roles of proximities in facilitating these links