Barriers and Drivers of University–Industry Collaborative Innovation Based on Stakeholder Theory

Abstract

Collaboration between university and industry is becoming more broadly viewed to foster innovation through knowledge transfer. Influential elements, such as drivers and barriers, and stakeholders’ differing perspectives on University–Industry Collaborative Innovation (UICI) need to be explored during this process. Using the lens of stakeholder theory, this study proposes a multi-perspective framework for UICI. A systematic literature review process was used to develop the framework for multiple stakeholders’ viewpoints. Moreover, 84 papers on these topics were thoroughly evaluated and classified based on structural aspects and insightful categories. This paper develops the multi-perspective framework based on the UICI barriers and drivers, in which 17 barriers and 12 drivers are categorized and analyzed according to their implications. Consequently, the overall contribution of this study is based on stakeholder theory to understand the influencing factors in UICI from multiple perspectives including government, university, and industry, and how these factors facilitate or hinder its development. Furthermore, most obstacles encountered are viewed from a cross perspective of university and industry. On the driver’s side, the factors should be recognized so that cooperation parties can prepare for changes by investigating these influential positive factors. A comprehensive strategy for successfully promoting UICI is to consider influential factors from multiple viewpoints. Finally, we make some concluding remarks and discuss some emerging topics in this field that are fertile for further investigation.