While empirical research does indeed suggest that collaborative R&D has many desirable outcomes,
it is also clear that collaborative work is difficult and expensive. The challenge becomes increasingly
sharp as complex and expensive research questions require a large pool of resources and a
combination of specialized disciplines. As a result, different organizations get involved in
interdisciplinary projects to expand the frontiers of knowledge. This paper analyzes the strategy
and methodological approaches used to mobilize interdisciplinary R&D within a universityindustry
network named ‘House of the Future’. We discuss the implications of our research for
R&D networks design
