How Should Firms Evaluate Success in University-Industry Alliances? A Performance Measurement System

R&D Management, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 202–216, March 2011

37 Pages Posted: 17 May 2010 Last revised: 7 May 2011

See all articles by Markus Perkmann

Markus Perkmann

Imperial College Business School

Andy Neely

University of Cambridge; London Business School

Kathryn Walsh

Loughborough University

Date Written: May 17, 2010

Abstract

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 R&D managers with a tool for assessing university-industry alliances that is prospective, reliable and multi-dimensional.

Keywords: University-Industry Relations, Technology Transfer, Performance Measurement, Contract Research, Commercialization

Suggested Citation

Perkmann, Markus and Neely, Andy D. and Walsh, Kathryn, How Should Firms Evaluate Success in University-Industry Alliances? A Performance Measurement System (May 17, 2010). R&D Management, Vol. 41, No. 2, pp. 202–216, March 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1609746

Markus Perkmann (Contact Author)

Imperial College Business School ( email )

London, SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Andy D. Neely

University of Cambridge ( email )

Trinity Ln
Cambridge, CB2 1TN
United Kingdom

HOME PAGE: http://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/people/adn1000/

London Business School ( email )

Sussex Place
Regent's Park
London, London NW1 4SA
United Kingdom

Kathryn Walsh

Loughborough University ( email )

Ashby Road
Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU
United Kingdom

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