Types of Knowledge and Diversity of Business-Academia Collaborations: Implications for Measurement and Policy
Triple Helix Vol. 2, No. 1, paper 12, DOI: 10.1186/s40604-015-0023-4
26 Pages Posted: 4 Aug 2015 Last revised: 29 Aug 2015
There are 2 versions of this paper
Types of Knowledge and Diversity of Business-Academia Collaborations: Implications for Measurement and Policy
Date Written: July 31, 2015
Abstract
Analysis of business-academia (B-A) collaborations typically relies on a single method, addressing one or two major research questions. In contrast, this article tackles both R&D and innovation collaborations among businesses and academia relying on information using multiple methods and multiple sources of information to offer insights on dynamics and qualitative features of these co-operation processes. Interviews conducted in Hungary – in line with other research findings – have also confirmed that (i) motivations, incentives for, and norms of, conducting R&D and innovation activities diametrically differ in business and academia; and (ii) different types of firms have different needs. Thus, more refined policy measures are to be devised to promote B-A collaboration more effectively, better tuned to the needs of the actors, based on a relevant taxonomy of their co-operations. Evaluation criteria for academics should also be revised to remove some major obstacles, currently blocking more fruitful B-A co-operation. Several findings can be generalised beyond the cases considered, suggesting the need for a deeper understanding of the role of intermediaries in the Triple Helix and for broader comparative analysis of innovation policies. The research design to analyse B-A collaborations always needs to be tailored to the innovation system in question, just as the concomitant policy recommendations.
Keywords: Types of knowledge, Diversity in business-academia collaboration, Multiple methods to map business-academia collaborations, STI policy implications
JEL Classification: I23, I28, O38, O33, O52
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation