Abstract
University–industry interaction (U–I) acquires relevance to countries to the extent that they identify how scientific knowledge produced within universities enhances technological development in firms and facilitates innovations. Universities are invigorated by the possibility of new scientific investigations that these relationships provide. The objective of this article is to analyze the establishment and development of U–I interactions in Santa Catarina, Brazil, of four universities through evolutionary phases, forms of interaction, benefits, and barriers. A total of 38 in-depth interviews were conducted during the data collection stage. To support the analysis and presentation of results, the qualitative data analysis software Atlas/ti, version 7.1.3 was used. The results pointed to non-linearity in the evolution of U–I interaction and demonstrate that most of the relationships between universities and firms are concentrated in traditional and services channels. Moreover, their interaction intensity is evident in the short term with the flow of knowledge being directed from universities to firms. With regard to benefits and barriers, the research results expand on the avenues outlined in the literature, which reflects some characteristics of this interaction type in Brazil, whose relationships are still new and do not yet have a solid trajectory.
Highlights
The study of university–industry interaction (U–I) has emerged as a specific research field in the last three decades as part of the increase in policies that emphasize the commercialization of research and the links between basic research and social needs (Bekkers & Freitas, 2008; Rothaermel, Agung, & Jiang, 2007; Teixeira & Mota, 2012)
The main themes studied in the area point to the knowledge transfer process and how this can be influenced by the characteristics of firms, universities, and researchers; the channels through which interaction occurs, the creation of spin-offs, the importance and role of intermediary agents, such as technology transfer offices; geographical questions; the implications for science and technology policy, and the measurement of U–I cooperation (Teixeira & Mota, 2012)
U–I interaction is set in a learning process, both by the university and the firm, whose relations are established within a logic that involves the sharing of knowledge, mutual trust, and the transfer of personnel between the two actors (Albuquerque et al, 2015)
Summary
The study of university–industry interaction (U–I) has emerged as a specific research field in the last three decades as part of the increase in policies that emphasize the commercialization of research and the links between basic research and social needs (Bekkers & Freitas, 2008; Rothaermel, Agung, & Jiang, 2007; Teixeira & Mota, 2012). U–I interaction is set in a learning process, both by the university and the firm, whose relations are established within a logic that involves the sharing of knowledge, mutual trust, and the transfer of personnel between the two actors (Albuquerque et al, 2015).
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