Korean University Researchers' Knowledge Acquisition through Research Partnerships with Companies

Abstract

University-industry research partnerships (UIPs) are gaining in importance, but also create serious managerial challenges for collaboration partners. Whereas most extant research on UIPs is focused on Western countries, the firms’ perspective and on contextual factors, this study investigates the influence of relational factors which contribute to university researchers’ knowledge acquisition in Korea. An analysis of survey data on 295 university-industry partnerships reveals that pre-existing ties between university and industry partners, their degree of managerial similarity and shared project governance by companies and universities contribute to the knowledge acquisition of university researchers, whereas most contextual factors do not play an important role for their knowledge acquisition. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that Korean university researchers can enhance their acquisition of technological and scientific knowledge in UIPs by developing and maintaining a strong working relationship with company partners.