Industry–university technology cooperation: a theory of inter-organizational relationships

Abstract

This article proposes a grounded theoretical framework of R@D technoloa cooperation based on the congruence of existing theor;;es oSint~r-organizational relationsh$s. The theory is grounded in the empirical experiences of the indu.rtgmniur,rsi cooperatine centers in the US. I t addresses two re.rearch questions: (1) Lhy do univer~itzes and industrial companies engage in cooperatioe R@D?(2) What factors azect their sunival? Perceived resource dependency is proposed to be a motivator for initiating cooperative R@D. Interaction theories explain survir~abili&, in that prior interaction between the parties and the degree of institutionalization qf the interactions are hypothesized to explain survival over time. The intens$ of interaction is also sugge.cttd to improve the chances for surui~~al, but within a range of optimalig (not too much and not too little). I,i:mitation.r and implications for research and poliy are also discussed.

The Survival of Interorganizational Networks: A Proposal Based on Resource Dependence Theory

“…Galaskiewicz (1985) argues that environmental uncertainty may motivate organizations to develop interorganizational relationships both vertically and horizontally as a way of addressing this uncertainty. A substantial portion of research on interorganizational relationships has emphasized the role of environment dependence in the genesis and formation of relationships of cooperation between companies (Geisler, 1995).…”

The Use of Feed-forward and Feedback Learning in Firm-University Knowledge Development: The Case of Japan

“…In the study of university-firm alliances for organizational learning and new knowledge development, researchers have mainly focused on the issues of facilitating factors of university-firm alliances (Geisler, 1995;Cassiman and Veugelers, 2002;Santoro and Chakrabarti, 2002;Tether, 2002;Fontana et al, 2006); finding structural or firm-level contingencies for preferring university over private firm partners for R&D alliances (Teece, 1985;Kogut, 1988;Rosenberg and Nelson, 1994;Berkovitz and Feldman, 2005); the role of the government in galvanizing alliance formations (Capron and Cincera, 2003;Mohnen and Hoareau, 2003;Eom and Lee, 2010); and developing the legal and governance framework of such alliances (Cassiman and Veugelers, 2002). However, to many universities in Japan, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Scandinavia, a lingering question is: how to attract major multinational enterprises (MNEs) for their university-firm alliance projects.…”

Measuring university–industry collaboration in a regional innovation system

“…Universities are often described as ''engines for growth'' which generate skills and research results that are significant sources of innovation for firms, especially in some industrial fields (Mansfield 1995;Pavitt 2001). The need firms have for new knowledge (Meyer-Krahmer and Schmock 1998;Schartinger et al 2002) and universities have for financing (OECDE Secretarit 1999;Santoro and Gopalakrishnan 2000) generates an interdependence between them (Geisler 1995) that constitutes a driving force behind their collaboration. Furthermore, such transformation appears to be linked to the increasingly diversified roles of universities (Godin and Gingras 2000) and the growing legitimacy that relationships with industry are acquiring in academia (Colyvas and Powell 2006).…”