How long-term university-industry collaboration shapes the academic productivity of research groups

ABSTRACT

This paper analyses the impact of long-term university-industry collaboration on academic research productivity. Empirical studies show mixed evidence regarding how collaboration with industry affects scientific productivity, and there is a lack of understanding of the long-term effects of collaboration. This paper addresses this shortcoming using a unique longitudinal and comprehensive dataset of university-industry collaboration in Brazil. The results show that research groups that collaborate over the long-term with industry have better scientific performance, revealing that long-term collaborations between university and firms have a positive effect on academic productivity.

KEYWORDS:

• University-industry collaboration
• scientific productivity
• long-term collaboration
• knowledge transfer
• knowledge and innovation

JEL:

• O31
• O38
• I23

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Keld Laursen, Frederica Brunetta and other participants at the DRUID 2017 Conference who provided useful comments on an early version of this manuscript. We also like to thank Markus Perkmann, editor of Innovation: Organisation & Management, and three anonymous referees. Usual disclaimers apply.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.