Fundamental elements of university-industry interaction from a grounded theory approach

Rafaela Bürger,Gabriela Gonçalves Silveira Fiates

doi:10.1108/inmr-08-2021-0156

Rafaela Bürger, Gabriela Gonçalves Silveira Fiates

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1108/inmr-08-2021-0156

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Abstract

PurposeThis work aims to analyze the university–industry interaction in innovation ecosystems. The problem under study addresses how agents can operate in university–industry interactions to enhance the connections, specifically in the aspect of operational mechanisms of an innovation ecosystem.Design/methodology/approachThe study is qualitative, applied through grounded theory approach, cross-sectional and multiple sources of evidence – semi-structured interviews were conducted. An explanatory conceptual model was subsequently compared with the literature and validated with specialists.FindingsThe results showed that the university–industry interaction is influenced by several factors, such as networking, legal support, facilitating agents, management practices. Despite this, some other factors were identified for the improvement of U–I relationships, such as: strengthening of triple helix, greater legal certainty and encouragement of open innovation.Research limitations/implicationsThe small sample size and the heterogeneity among the universities interviewed did not allow full saturation to occur. In spite of that, a significant level of saturation with respect to the challenges and barriers was observed.Practical implicationsThis work has a direct dialogue with researchers, managers and actors involved in university–industry interaction with regard to increasing the capacity for creation and dissemination of knowledge among organizations, educational institutions, government and companies.Originality/valueBy adopting a grounded theory approach, a detailed research agenda addresses research needs in two main areas: activities that precede the interaction between universities and companies, and the organization and management of the consequences of collaborative relationships.

Highlights

Inserted in a complex economic and social context, characterized by constant changes, organizations increasingly depend on the capacity of their intellectual assets to generate ideas and create innovative products and services (Fagerberg, Lundvall, & Srholec, 2018)
Analysis and discussion Innovation is recognized as a source of survival and growth for companies, as well as an important element in explaining the wealth of regions and nations
The relationship between the production of scientific and technological knowledge plays an important role in the development of innovation

Summary

Introduction

Inserted in a complex economic and social context, characterized by constant changes, organizations increasingly depend on the capacity of their intellectual assets to generate ideas and create innovative products and services (Fagerberg, Lundvall, & Srholec, 2018). By consensus, universities, companies and the government seem to point out that economic growth with equity depends on the strengthening, expansion, consolidation and integration of the national system of science, technology and innovation (Lemos & Cario, 2017) In this regard, the role of the instruments that support this process of U–I interaction is highlighted, so that they can offer conditions for the dissemination of knowledge aligned with science, technology and innovation (Bernardino, Debortoli, Veloso, Nunes, & de Assis, 2020). From the perspective of the NIS, universities are referred as relevant actors of innovation systems, where they play an important role in their interactions with companies, whether providing infrastructure or human resources for innovation or by promoting learning process and knowledge transfer (Suzigan & Albuquerque, 2011; Lemos & Cario, 2017).

Interviewed actors**

Findings

Approximation of the model with the literature