University–industry collaboration: using meta-rules to overcome barriers to knowledge transfer

Abstract

University-industry knowledge transfer is an important source wealth of creation for all partners; however, the practical management of this activity within universities is often hampered by procedural rigidity either through the absence of decision-making protocols to reconcile conflicting priorities or through the inconsistent implementation of existing policies. This is problematic, since it can impede operational effectiveness, prevent inter-organisational knowledge-creation and hamper organisational learning. This paper addresses this issue by adopting a cross-discipline approach and presenting meta-rules as a solution to aid organisational decision making. It is proposed that meta-rules can help resolve tensions arising from conflicting priorities between academics, knowledge transfer offices and industry and help facilitate strategic alignment of processes and policies within and between organisations. This research contributes to the growing debate on the strategic challenges of managing knowledge transfer and presents meta-rules as a practical solution to facilitate strategic alignment of internal and external stakeholder tensions. Meta-rules has previously only been applied in a computer intelligence context however, this research proves the efficacy of meta rules in a university-industry knowledge transfer context. This research also has practical implications for knowledge transfer office managers who can use meta-rules to help overcome resource limitations, conflicting priorities and goals of diverse internal and external stakeholders.

DRAT: Data risk assessment tool for university–industry collaborations

“…Thus, by necessity, companies are usually reticent to publish results, or wish to do so in a way that maximizes the advantage to themselves as the funding (or provisioning) organization, while minimizing the benefit to competitors. They also need to obtain results much more quickly (Alexander et al, 2018). Industry researchers, unsurprisingly, publish much less frequently in journals and are more likely instead to publish their ideas as patents (Anthony et al, 2004), for which supporting data is never required.…”

Strategic knowledge management within subsidised entrepreneurial university-industry partnerships

“…Consequently, when opportunist behaviours are detected, the partnership should implement the formal and informal controls until the end or dissolution of the subsidised project (Alexander et al, 2018;de Wit-de Vries et al, 2018). It will increase the cost of knowledge management and constitute a major cause of partnership instability (Williamson, 1987).…”

University-Industry Relations and Industrial Innovation: Evidence from Brazil

“…According to Elia, Secundo & Passiante (2017), the collaboration between science and technology is intense, usually with a focus within the university in a supporting role of the industry. This industry knowledge transfer is an important source of creation for all partners (Alexander, Martin, Manolchev & Miller, 2018), however, the academy's ability to effectively transfer knowledge to the industry is essential for universities to fulfill their mission and entrepreneurial ambition (Miller, Alexander, Cunningham & Albats, 2018). Within this context, relevant policies may be needed to facilitate collaboration in improving innovation efficiency at different stages (Shi, Wu, & Fu, 2020).…”