A Transition from Complex R&D Collaborations to Optimized R&D Coalitions: The Strategic Projects Paradigm

Abstract

This research contribution has been drafted to present the transitional paradigm shift from the complex R&D collaborations towards optimized articulated R&D research and development environment. This research has highlighted various forms of complexities and complexity traits, involved in the university industry R&D collaborations, specifically for strategic and mega projects. Authors have conducted the survey based research among the researchers from university and industry of China, involved in the deliberated projects of aerospace, mechanical, materials, electronics and communication industry. This research has analyzed the impacts of various complexity attributes, namely the technical, behavioral, social, integration, product, methodological and organizational complexity on R&D collaborations for strategic projects. Results indicate that technological, social, behavioral, organizational and product complexities have significant cocksure effect to enhance collaboration complexity respectively. Nevertheless, according to the analysis of empirical results of collected data from Chinese's R&D professionals, integration and methodological complexities have not significant effect on R&D collaborations. The Authors have coined and analyzed an optimum R&D environment to cope with R&D collaboration complexities. Optimal R&D environment has been characterized with complexity reticent, knowledge piracy attitude, two-way communication environs, involvement of governing bodies, the timely technical support, appropriate decision making and the execution of planned schedules by the collaborating vertices of R&D strategic projects. It has been analyzed that optimal R&D environment facilitates R&D collaborations, where all complexity traits regarding R&D projects are considered seriously at every phase of joint R&D project execution. The statistical data analysis of 139 samples of the survey supports the hypothesis and dictates the way to an optimal research and development environment for the strategic projects.