Path Dependence in Industry-University Cooperation - In terms of Industry’s Voluntary Participation

Abstract

Purpose - The Korean university education system is facing innovation and change, including cooperation between industry and university, Therefore It is important to activate the industry-university cooperation. This paper aims to demonstrate the factors that activate industry-university cooperation, particularly about the voluntary participation induction by industry and researching in path dependency perspectives. Research design, data, and methodology - The subject of this research were companies that are aware of the industry-university cooperation program. This research hypothesis is derived from the literature of previous studies of industry-university cooperation, This study have constructs that was defined operationally with reference to previous studies, this research model design to figure out structural relationship among technology leadership of university, university specialization, local network strength, fixation of local economy, recognition of path dependence, participation by industry, performance of industry-university cooperation. From 2017 July. 1 to Sept. 31, questionnaire survey targeting company staff who is involving in industry-university cooperation. 257 questionnaire survey had conducted. 249 investigated data were used for empirical analysis except wrong data. This data were used for AMOS(structural equation) & Regression statistics to verify hypothesis which developed by researcher. Results - The results of this study are as follows. First, technology leadership of universities has a significant effect on voluntary participation by industry. University specialization has significant effect on voluntary participation by industry. Second, local network strength has significant effect on voluntary participation by industry. but fixation of local economy does not affect voluntary participation by industry. Third, recognition of path dependence has moderating effect between Independent(university, company characteristics) and dependent variables(voluntary participation by industry) When recognition level of path dependence is high, preceding factors have a significant effect on voluntary participation by industry than recognition level of path dependence is low. As a result, the degree of recognition of path dependence was shown important variables that induce voluntary participation of industry for industry-university cooperation program. Conclusions - This study suggests that voluntary participation of industry is a very important factor in the achievement of industry-university cooperation. Recognition of interdependence as well as leading factors that encourage voluntary participation of industry is also just as important. If recognition of path dependence was high, Industry's voluntary participation was high.