Evaluating University-Business Collaboration at Science Parks: a Business Perspective

Abstract

Abstract The evaluation of the companies’ performance at University Science Parks (SPs) becomes essential in identifying the needs of the companies and the feasibility of the University-Business Collaboration (UBC). The companies’ real needs are also of interest for universities and SPs, since they face the challenge of designing strategies that best help them to transfer knowledge more effectively. This research article focuses on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in UBC, needs and business objectives of companies co-located at SPs in Spain and Mexico. This article (i) aims to identify the KPIs in UBC used by co-located companies at SPs, and (ii) explore the KPIs in UBC and critical success factors of SPs. This article focuses on the perspective of companies, with a secondary focus on the perspectives of SPs and universities. For this study, data was collected through online company surveys in Spain and Mexico. Moreover, the empirical analysis uses fourteen semi-structured interviews addressed to SPs directors to explore KPIs in UBC and success factors of SPs in both countries. In addition, two frameworks were developed with the main KPIs in UBC, taking into account university and company perspectives. They show the objectives, strategies and long-term KPIs as well as progress KPIs, and they are a useful guide to evaluate the accomplishments and the alignment of goals in UBC.