Beneath the tip of the iceberg: exploring the multiple forms of university–industry linkages

Abstract

This article focuses on the wide variety of channels through which the process of knowledge transfer occurs. The overall objective is to show the complexity of relationships between researchers and firms in a university system, and to identify some specific factors that influence such interactions. Our case study involves a face-to-face survey of 765 heads of research teams in a regional system to contrast the multiple forms of university-industry collaborative linkages. Drawing on the exploitation of a data set developed for the purpose, we show that for a majority of universities the thrust of their collaborative experiences is devoted to tacit knowledge rather than to intellectual property rights. Researchers actively engage in the provision of different services to firms such as consulting work, commissioned or joint research projects, and human resources training. Research teams also participate in non-academic knowledge dissemination and informal networking. The results of our study enable us to draw some policy implications for university administrators and policymakers. A focus on patents and spin-offs as indicators of collaborative research ignores the limits of many of the economic and productive contexts in which universities are embedded. It may also be detrimental to the strengthening of emerging trends that are oriented towards softer collaborative experiences and other forms of knowledge transfer.

From ideas to construction innovations: firms and universities collaborating

“…Comparing results here with what other researchers have found, we find that many of the Bygginnovationen joint projects have been able to combine transfer of tacit knowledge with observing intellectual property rights, rather than opposing these two aspects (Ramos-Vielba and Fernández-Esquinas, 2012). In general, the views on interaction did not differ much between industry and university survey respondents, thus not confirming the existence of what Bruneel, D'Este and Salter (2010) saw as orientation barriers.…”

“…That interaction studies tend to gravitate towards quantitative analysis where there are ample databases in the public domain is perhaps easy to understand. Nevertheless, taking a broader view of industries and disciplines, "the thrust of their collaborative experiences is devoted to tacit knowledge rather than to intellectual property rights", according to the large Spanish survey reported by Ramos-Vielba and Fernández-Esquinas (2012), and this is not contradicted by other broad surveys or case studies such as that of the Chalmers Energy Initiative (Jacobsson, Vico and Hellsmark, 2014).…”

How and what knowledge do universities and academics transfer to industry in African low-income countries? Evidence from the stage of university-industry linkages in Mozambique

“…Firstly, characteristics of universities (size, resources, type of knowledge produced, type of academic departments), firms (strategy, size of business, sector of activity, nature of R&D) and scientists (profile and research experience) and on how these characteristics incentivise or hinder UILs (p. 721-723). Secondly, the nature of knowledge transfer channels, the knowledge transferred, the breadth or depth of UILs, including incentives and barriers to UILs (Wang et al, 2015;Ramos-Vielba and Fernadez-Esquinas, 2012). Thirdly, science and technology policies (Seppo et al, 2014).…”

Dynamic interactions between university-industry knowledge transfer channels: A case study of the most highly cited academic patent

“…Informal channels studied include personal contacts between academic and industry researchers (Cohen et al, 2002;D'Este and Patel, 2007;Bekkers and Freitas, 2008;Ramos-Vielba and Fernández-Esquinas, 2012).…”