University-Industry Collaboration in a Cross-Border Iberian Regions

Abstract

This study sought to understand how the differences in university-industry (U-I) dynamics in two cross-border regions act on their research and innovation performance. Surveys were administered to academics from research centres or units in Portugal’s Northern Region and Spain’s Castile and Leon. Data were also collected from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS2014) conducted in Portugal and Spain, to obtain a broader perspective on the topic and regions under analysis. A comparison could thus be made between the researchers’ perspective (i.e. micro) and the companies’ perspective that answered the CIS questionnaire (i.e. meso) on U-I collaboration dynamics. The questionnaires were analysed using Partial least squares structural equation modelling, and the data from CIS survey using logistic regression. The results show that U-I cooperation is associated with (i) time spent on research and development, (ii) budgets based on direct contracts with industries, (iii) companies’ location and (iv) incentives for collaboration. However, the researchers’ age and academic field are the only factors affecting which incentives for collaboration are significant. The results also reveal that U-I collaboration influences regions’ innovation profiles. These findings contribute to a fuller, more empirical understanding of U-I cooperation, demonstrating that encouragement of this type of collaboration can be a driver of innovation in any region. This article contributes in policy terms to a better understanding of the necessary incentives for both U-I collaboration and the internationalisation of this collaboration.