Organizations increasingly rely on external sources of innovation via inter‐organizational network relationships. This paper explores the diffusion and characteristics of collaborative relationships between universities and industry, and develops a research agenda informed by an ‘open innovation’ perspective. A framework is proposed, distinguishing university–industry relationships from other mechanisms such as technology transfer or human mobility. On the basis of the existing body of research, the role of practices such as collaborative research, university–industry research centres, contract research and academic consulting is analysed. The evidence suggests that such university–industry relationships are widely practised, whereby differences exist across industries and scientific disciplines. While most existing research focuses on the effects of university–industry links on innovation‐specific variables such as patents or firm innovativeness, the organizational dynamics of these relationships remain under‐researched. A detailed research agenda addresses research needs in two main areas: search and match processes between universities and firms, and the organization and management of collaborative relationships.

While firms increasingly engage in formal alliances with universities, there is a lack of tools to assess the outcomes of such collaborations. We propose a performance measurement system for university-industry alliances. We derive a success map from existing research on university-industry relations, indicating the causal relationships underpinning successful alliances. The success map distinguishes between different process stages, including inputs, in-process activities, outputs and impacts. We discuss specific measures for each of these stages, and how they should be deployed. The resulting framework includes both prospective and retrospective measures and subjective and objective measures. It provides research and development managers with a tool for assessing university-industry alliances that is prospective, reliable and multi-dimensional.R&D Management 41, 2,

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Conclusions-It appears feasible to close interatrial communications and atrial septal defects up to 26 mm stretched diameter safely with the Amplatzer septal occluder. Short term results confirm an early high occlusion rate with no major complications. Careful selection of cases based on the echocardiographic morphology of the ASD and accurate assessment of their stretched diameter is of utmost importance. Further experience with the larger devices and longer term results are required before a firm conclusion regarding its use can be made. (Heart 1999;82:300-306)

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This paper considers the increasing trend of inter-working among small firms. Networks of small firms co-operate in certain activities, such as marketing, purchasing, R&D, training or manufacturing. But does co-operation lead to innovation? To answer this question published evaluations of small firms cooperating for mutual benefit are reappraised. Inter-working among small firms is then investigated further by interviewing three network brokers. The brokers were funded by regional governments and they facilitated co-operation between small firms. These semi-structured discussions explored the key characteristics of successful networks, the responsibilities of the broker and the level of innovation occurring.Networking is primarily a competitive response. It needs to evolve into a mechanism to enable small firms to develop innovative products and processes jointly. Small firms may have to rethink their approach to co-operation, and their motives for initiating inter-working if they are to benefit fully from co-operation.

Fusarium graminearum , one of the causal agents of fusarium head blight (FHB) of wheat in the UK, can be broadly divided into two chemotypes based on the production of the 8-ketotrichothecenes deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV). DON-producing isolates can be further distinguished on the basis of the predominant acetyl DON derivative that they produce; 3-acetyl DON (3-AcDON) or 15-acetyl DON (15-AcDON). Functional Tri13 and Tri7 are required for the production of NIV and 4-acetyl NIV, respectively, whereas, in isolates that produce only DON and its acetylated derivatives, these genes are nonfunctional or absent. Infections caused by F. graminearum are becoming more frequent in the UK; however, it is unknown whether these represent more than one chemotype. In this study, polymerasae chain reaction (PCR) assays specific for functional and nonfunctional/deleted versions of Tri7 and Tri13 were used to characterize 101 single-spore isolates of Fusarium graminearum as DON or NIV chemotypes. Primer sets developed to Tri3 were used to classify DON chemotypes further by the acetyl derivative produced (3-AcDON or 15-AcDON). Isolates were collected from 65 fields located around England and Wales between 1997 and 2002. All three chemotypes were identified from the F. graminearum population of England and Wales, with 15-AcDON chemotypes predominating overall. All isolates characterized as 3-or 15-AcDON chemotypes had nonfunctional versions of both genes. Where multiple isolates were collected from a field, mixed-chemotype populations were identified. Variation in the number of 11-bp repeats in Tri7 was detected among 3-and 15-AcDON chemotypes. Seventy-two of the 76 DON chemotypes (95%) were classified as 15-AcDON producers and the remaining four isolates (5%) as 3-AcDON producers. In all four isolates with a 3-AcDON chemotype, Tri7 was deleted from the trichothecene gene cluster. There was no evidence of regional variation between 3-AcDON, 15-AcDON or NIV chemotypes within the F. graminearum population.

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