University-Firm cooperation as a way to promote sustainability practices: A sustainable entrepreneurship perspective

Abstract

Sustainability is a growing concern in the business world. Therefore, establishing cooperative University-Firm (U–F) relationships, with a view to promoting the implementation of sustainability practices, has become increasingly important and valued by both firms and academia. Thus, from a sustainable entrepreneurship perspective, this study aims to identify and analyse a case study describing a cooperative U–F relationship as a way to promote sustainability. The qualitative research method was adopted, resorting to semi-structured personal interviews with the actors in this relationship and documentary analysis. Content analysis revealed that the U–F cooperation relationship studied here is a mechanism to promote and implement the firm's sustainability. Both sides in this cooperation relationship recognize that its purpose was fruitfully and successfully achieved. Therefore, this study contributes to theory, advancing knowledge for the literature on U–F cooperation about sustainability. In the practical domain, the study can also stimulate firms to develop cooperation relationships aiming to promote sustainability and consequently implement sustainable practices.