University–industry relations and research group production: is there a bidirectional relationship?

Abstract

This study aims to analyze if there is a bidirectional relationship between university–industry collaboration and scientific production. The results from a sample of 137 research groups at a university in an ultra-peripheral region reveal the existence of this bidirectional relationship. Scientific production has a positive influence on university–industry relations. Thus, when the articles published by the research groups increase, the contracts between university and industry also increase. Moreover, the results reflect a nonlinear relationship between contracts and scientific production. University–industry relations are complementary to scientific production up to a certain level, and after that point, there is a substitution effect. The results also show the moderating effect of the knowledge area on this relationship because groups belonging to technology-oriented areas have higher scientific production in response to university–industry relations.