Strategic Research Partnerships Research Articles

The Impact of the Ecosystem on Health Literacy Among Rural Communities in Protected Areas: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Study.

Protected areas are crucial for the maintenance of human health and well-being. They aim to preserve biodiversity and natural resources to secure various ecosystem services that are beneficial to human health. Their ecological characteristics can influence local health literacy. Typically, communities surrounding protected areas have limited economic opportunities due to restriction policies to protect the ecosystem, resulting in socioeconomic disparities. The local community faces obstacles in gaining access to health care facilities and health information due to these limitations. It is difficult for them to locate, comprehend, and apply information and services to make better health-related decisions for themselves and others. This study protocol examines the impact of the ecosystem on health literacy among rural communities in protected areas. This study comprises 5 phases. In phase 1, we conduct a systematic review to identify the issue of health literacy in protected areas. In phase 2, we will collect data from stakeholders in a protected area of Pahang National Park and analyze the results using Net-Map analysis. In phase 3, we will conduct a survey among the adult community in Pahang National Park related to health literacy, socioeconomic status, health expenditure, and quality of life. In phase 4, informed by the results of the survey, we will determine suitable intervention programs to improve health literacy through a focus group discussion. Finally, in phase 5, we will conduct a costing analysis to analyze which intervention program is the most cost-effective. This study was funded by Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) and strategic research partnership grants, and enrollment is ongoing. The first results are expected to be submitted for publication in 2024. This is one of the first studies to explore health literacy among rural communities in protected areas and will provide the first insights into the overall level of health literacy in the protected community, potential determinants, and a suitable intervention program with expected cost analysis. The results can be used to promote health literacy in other protected areas and populations. International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry ISRCTN40626062; http://tinyurl.com/4kjxuwk5. PRR1-10.2196/51851.

XI All-Russian Conference with international participation “Fuel combustion: theory, experiment, applications” (FCTEA 2021) November 09-12, 2021, Novosibirsk, Russia

On November 9 – 12, 2021, Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics SB RAS had the Anniversary XI All-Russian Conference with international participation “Fuel Combustion: Theory, Experiment, Applications” (FCTEA 2021). The scientific topics of the Conference covered a wide range of areas of fundamental and applied research related to the study of combustion of various fuels with reference to the modern and advanced technologies of energy production and engine manufacturing technology.This Conference was firstly organized in the 70s of the XX century by outstanding Russian scientists who created the foundations of modern trends in the development of world science in a number of areas, where the Russian fundamental and applied science retains the leadership. In recent decades, the Conference has been held regularly every three years and it is a unique scientific event in Russia that attracts a lot of attention of Russian and foreign scientists and specialists in the field of energy, chemistry and mechanics of reacting media. The event was attended by more than 100 representatives of scientific organizations, universities and energy companies from Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo, Yekaterinburg, Moscow, Vladivostok, St. Petersburg and other cities of the Russian Federation as well as from Mongolia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan participated.The organizer of the Conference is the Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics SB RAS: the leading scientific organization in Russia in the field of heat and mass transfer processes as well as scientific and technical developments for traditional and renewable energy. The scope of Institute research is focused on obtaining the practical results, including simulation of combustion processes in the components of power equipment and engines, and creating the most sophisticated technologies. The Institute is involved in the strategic research and technology partnerships with largest Russian and foreign companies in the energy sector.List of Editorial Committee, Organizing Committee Chairmans, Deputy Chairmans, Scientific secretaries, Scientific Committee are available in this pdf.

Achieving meaningful participation of people who use drugs and their peer organizations in a strategic research partnership

BackgroundPeer-led programs with people who use drugs (PWUD) have been a key characteristic of the harm reduction in many countries, including their involvement in research. However, peer involvement in research is often limited to recruitment, consultation, and reporting back, rather than a genuine collaboration in the priority setting, design, and conduct of research. PWUD peer organizations face ongoing challenges to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge of current and emerging issues within drug-using networks and the value of their peer insights for effective research and policy. The identification of benefits, barriers, and enablers for meaningful participation of PWUD in research has often been limited to methodological rather than system level factors.MethodsThis paper draws on the experiences and findings of the What Works and Why (W3) Project, a 5-year collaborative study with peer organizations. The study drew on systems thinking methods to develop a framework to demonstrate the role of peer organizations within their community and policy systems. The study required peer staff and researchers to undertake the simultaneous role of drivers, participants, and analysts in the research. To identify the learnings in relation to meaningful participation of PWUD peer organizations in research, we drew together the insights and experiences of peer staff and researchers across the 5 years of the studyResultsThe W3 Project provided insights into the nuances of community-engaged research practice and the ongoing benefits, barriers, and enablers to the meaningful participation of PWUD and their peer organizations. These included system-level barriers and enablers beyond individual research projects or methodology. The capacity of research and peer organizations to maintain meaningful peer participation in research can be restricted or enhanced by the systems in which they are embedded.ConclusionsRecognizing peer organizations as active participants and drivers within community and policy systems can help clarify their unique and critical role in research. Achieving meaningful collaboration with PWUD peer organizations requires looking beyond good practice methods to the system-level factors with attention to the system-level benefits, barriers, and enablers.

1746P - Comparing cancer patients’ and support persons’ preferences for the type of consultation and the format of information provided when making a treatment decision

Background: Cancer patients and their support persons often feel overwhelmed when being confronted with their diagnosis and treatment options. Such information is commonly provided during one consultation with their clinician. We compared cancer patients’ and their support persons’ preferences for: i) attending one 40-minute consultation or two 20-minute consultations when making a treatment decision; and ii) receiving additional information in written form only or in both written and online forms. Methods: An Australian cross-sectional survey, using a discrete choice experiment (DCE), of 159 adult medical oncology patients, and 64 of their support persons. Participants were presented with four hypothetical scenarios and asked to indicate their most and least preferred option. They were told that both treatments would have the same impact on participants’ life expectancy, and that there would be no difference between the scenarios in terms of when treatment would start. Results: 147 patients and 59 support persons completed the DCE. The proportions of patients and support persons choosing each scenario did not differ statistically significantly from each other (p > 0.05). Of the four scenarios, most patients and support persons preferred to receive two consultations along with written and online information (n = 65, 44% and n = 30, 51% respectively). Significantly more participants preferred to receive two shorter consultations rather than one longer consultation when this was combined with written and online information (p < 0.05). Conclusions: When making a cancer treatment decision, both patients and support persons seem to prefer to receive two shorter consultations combined with written and online information. Clinicians should consider offering this consultation style. Legal entity responsible for the study: Anne Herrmann. Funding: This study was funded by a Strategic Research Partnership Grant [CSR 11-02] from the Cancer Council New South Wales to the Newcastle Cancer Control Collaborative (New-3C), and by a Partnership Project [APP1059760] from the National Health & Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The authors also received funding support from the Hunter Cancer Research Alliance Implementation Science Flagship Program, the Hunter New England Local Health District, and the Australian Research Council. Infrastructure funding was provided by the University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Brazilian underutilised species to promote dietary diversity, local food procurement, and biodiversity conservation: a food composition gap analysis

BackgroundBrazil is home to a large portion of the world's biodiversity, but, paradoxically, the country's agriculture and food security are very reliant on exotic or introduced crops or species. Native species are being neglected and forgotten with natural landscapes and traditional foods being replaced by monocultures of commodity crops and pasture for livestock, causing habitat and biodiversity loss. At the same time, Brazil faces dietary simplification and high levels of malnutrition. Much of the neglected native biodiversity is highly nutritious and exploring these food sources could help provide sustainable solutions to diversifying diets, tackling malnutrition problems, and promoting agricultural development through local food procurement, while also promoting biodiversity conservation and climate change adaptation and resilience. However, notable knowledge and evidence gaps still need to be addressed to better integrate biodiversity for enhancing food and nutrition security, including scientific data on the nutritional value and composition of native underutilised species. In Brazil, the Biodiversity for Food and Nutrition (BFN) project generated food composition data, developed recipes, and increased appreciation and awareness of the value of underutilised, nutrient-rich biodiversity through strategic research partnerships with universities and research institutes. MethodsFor this food composition gap analysis of native Brazilian biodiversity, the BFN project established partnerships with universities and research institutes for the generation of food composition data (macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals) and the development of recipes for 70 native underutilised species of fruits and vegetables of economic potential. Food composition data was gathered by doing a literature review, using compilation methods developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the International Network for Food Data Systems. Food composition analysis is being done for data that was missing or incomplete. Data is being made available on a food composition and recipes database developed with the Information System on Brazilian Biodiversity. FindingsFrom May, 2014, to March, 2016, the nine partner universities in Brazil compiled existing food composition data for 59 of the 70 selected indigenous Brazilian fruit and vegetable species for which data were available. Food composition analysis is being done for missing or incomplete data (especially for vitamins, minerals, and dietary fibre) for all 70 species and will be finalised in 2018. Results thus far show that many of the studied species are high in vitamins, such as the high concentrations of vitamin A encountered in the pulp of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes; 317 μg retinol activity equivalent [RAE] per 100 g), tucumã (Astrocaryum aculeatum; 808 μg RAE per 100 g) and buriti (Mauritia flexuosa; 1204 μg RAE per 100 g). High vitamin C concentrations were found in the pulp of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia; 1620 mg/100 g), guabiroba (Campomanesia xanthocarpa; 428 mg/100 g) and mangaba (Hancornia speciosa; 209 mg/100 g). Protein concentrations were high in seeds of chicha (Sterculia striata; 19 g/100 g), pequi (Caryocar brasiliense; 29 g/100 g) and baru (Dipteryx alata; 29 mg/100 g). InterpretationThe data is being used as an advocacy tool for promoting native species in public initiatives including policy incentives for improving their production and market chains. By working through regional partners, capacities were developed in different regions, directly engaging more than 100 students and professors. These groups act as multipliers, building additional human capacity and operating as opinion leaders and policy advisors, including the provision of research and technical backstopping for municipal managers, school managers, nutritionists, and cooks responsible for implementing the National School Feeding Programme, thus the partnership is likely to favour the inclusion of biodiversity in school meals. FundingGlobal Environment Facility.

Engaging the local government in research &amp; extension: the ACIAR-landcare experience in integrated crop management project

Agricultural research and extension are important elements for improving agricultural production and food systems. It is said that the enhancement of traditional farming into science-based agriculture requires expeditious transfer of research results from laboratory to field. Agriculture extension was one of the services entrusted to local government from the national government during its decentralization in 1991. The basic premise was they can better design their extension services to best fit local needs because they know more of the local setting. It is a unique service that provides access to small rural poor farmers through non-formal education and information sources. That in turn helps these communities to increase productivity and income, alleviate poverty and improve food security. The strategic research partnerships between local government, non-government organizations and academic researchers as an innovative mechanism to further define and facilitate extension service delivery are now increasingly recognized. This article provides the narrative of the experiences and lessons in bridging agricultural research and community practices through strategic involvement of the local government in research and extension. The discussion is based on the experience of Landcare Foundation of the Philippines (LFPI), a non-government organization, while implementing the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Integrated Crop Management (ICM) Project in Bohol, Philippines.

Administrative, legal, and organizational hurdles in data linkage: Experiences and lessons from the recent National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) - U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) data linkage project

ABSTRACT&#x0D; ObjectivesThrough a collaborative agreement between the NCHS and HUD, the first linkage of two national population health surveys to HUD administrative records of housing assistance was recently completed. Based on this multi-year effort, this paper emphasizes key requirements for making progress in and between regulatory and legal environments; confidentiality and data security.&#x0D; BackgroundAs the principal health statistics agency in the United States, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) collects and disseminates statistical information that guide actions and policies to improve the health of the American people. The mission of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. Prior to the release of the NCHS-HUD linked file, there was no existing data source to reliably estimate the prevalence of health conditions and outcomes for households receiving HUD housing assistance. Rather than conducting its own health survey, costing millions of dollars, HUD leveraged the existing NCHS and Census knowledge base, the data linking expertise of NCHS and its Research Data Center (RDC) infrastructure. With the NCHS-HUD linked data files, analysts and researchers can now examine health conditions, health behaviors, access to health services and use of health services in relation to housing.&#x0D; ApproachWhile technical (e.g., temporal, spatial, definitional, linkage keys) challenges for linking national-level surveys and administrative data have been the subjects of many discussions, often the organizational, legal and behavioral issues are more daunting and usually determine success. To comply with regulations at NCHS and HUD, a memorandum of understanding clearly outlined the manner with which personally identifying information (PII) would be protected, and how data would be shared across agencies.&#x0D; Results and ConclusionThrough this extraordinary and innovative, no-cost, collaborative and strategic research partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/NCHS, HUD is learning more about the health of tenants receiving housing assistance. The data linkage project is a model for data sharing that aligns with U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) directives for sharing data across federal agencies to reduce respondent burden and improve federal programs and as well as the health of American people.

The West African Health Organization's experience in improving the health research environment in the ECOWAS region.

BackgroundThe West African Health Organization (WAHO) implemented a research development program in West Africa during 2009–2013 using the Knowledge for Better Health Research Capacity Development Framework, developed by Pang et al. (Bull World Health Organ 81(11):815–820, 2003), on strategies used to improve the research environment. The framework has the following components: stewardship, financing, sustainable resourcing and research utilization. This paper describes how WAHO implemented this research development program in the West African region to help improve the research environment and lessons learnt.MethodsThis is a retrospective review of the regional research development program using a triangulation of activity reports, an independent evaluation and the authors’ experiences with stakeholders. This program was designed to address gaps along the components of the framework and to improve partnership. The activities, results and challenges are summarised for each component of the framework. The independent evaluation was conducted using over 180 semi-structured interviews of key stakeholders in the West African region and activity reports. WAHO and major stakeholders validated these findings during a regional meeting.ResultsAll 15 ECOWAS countries benefited from this regional research development program. WAHO provided technical and financial support to eight countries to develop their policies, priorities and plans for research development to improve their research governance. WAHO, along with other technical and financial partners, organised many capacity-strengthening trainings in health systems research methodology, resource mobilization, ethical oversight and on HRWeb, a research information management platform. WAHO helped launch a regional network of health research institutions to improve collaboration between regional participating institutions. Further, WAHO developed strategic research partnerships and mobilised additional funding to support the program. The program supported 24 health research projects. High staff turnover, weak institutional capacities and ineffective collaboration were some of the challenges encountered during program activity implementation.ConclusionThe regional collaborative approach to health research development using this framework was effective given the challenges in the West African region. The achievements particularly with improved research partnerships and funding helped strengthen local health research environments. This highlights WAHO’s role and the common experiences in the West African region in improving health research.

Industry-University Collaboration, A University of Dayton Model

This paper introduces industry-university collaboration activities currently in place at the University of Dayton's School of Engineering. These collaborations are important to prepare industry-ready graduates who excel in technical, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills. One of the key curricular component is the industry sponsored multidisciplinary projects. Industry involvement in advisory committee, strategic research partnerships, and other forms are discussed.

P10.10 T-cells in the anal mucosa of men with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions

Introduction The host cellular immune response plays an integral role in controlling human papilloma virus (HPV)-induced precancerous lesions. Anal mucosal cellular immune responses have not been previously studied. Methods The Study of the Prevention of Anal Cancer (SPANC) is a longitudinal natural history study of anal HPV infection in men ≥35 years who have sex with men. 26 participants with anal, high-grade (grade 2 or 3) squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) at study entry had 44 anal biopsies. Lymphoid aggregates in these biopsies were detected by inspection of haematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Additional sections were immunofluorescently stained to enumerate submucosal and intra-epithelial CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell counts. Whole slide imaging to reveal full tissue architecture at high resolution (x600) was used. Student’s t-test of log 10 -transformed T-cell density was used to compare means; a generalised, linear model was used to determine factors associated with total T-cell density (biopsy-based analysis with intra-subject adjustment). Results Of 26 men with mean age 53 years [standard deviation (SD) 10.5], 7 (27%) were HIV-infected and 17 (68%) had concurrent anal HPV16 in anal swabs. Of 44 biopsies, 26 (59%) revealed HSIL and 24 (55%) had lymphoid aggregates localised in the submucosa adjacent to the epithelium. Presence of lymphoid aggregates was associated with higher CD4 + T-cell density (mean 192 vs. 69 cells/mm 2 , P + T-cell density (106 vs. 62 cells/mm 2 , P = 0.077). A biopsy diagnosed with HSIL was significantly associated with higher total T-cell density [odds ratio (OR) 11.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51 – 92.08, P = 0.02], as was having anal HPV16 detected (OR 14.08, 95% CI 1.15 – 172.71, P = 0.04). Presence of low-risk HPV genotype (s) was not associated (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.12 – 15.14, P = 0.80). Conclusion CD4 + T-cell enriched lymphoid aggregates in the anal mucosa were associated with anal HSIL and HPV 16. Disclosure of interest statement Winnie Tong and Jennifer Roberts declare no conflicts of interest. This work was supported by the St Vincent’s Clinic Foundation K&A Collins Cancer Grant 2014. The SPANC study is funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council Program (grant 568971) and the Cancer Council New South Wales Strategic Research Partnership (grant SRP13–11).

Stimulating the development of national Streptococcus suis guidelines in Viet Nam through a strategic research partnership

Streptococcus suis is a common cause of adult bacterial meningitis in Viet Nam, and possibly other parts of Asia, yet this disabling infection has been largely neglected. Prevention, diagnosis and treatment are relatively straightforward and affordable but, in early 2007, no national diagnostic, case management or prevention guidelines existed in Viet Nam. Enhanced detection of S. suis infections was established in 2007 as part of a collaborative research programme between the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases, a key national hospital with very close links to the Ministry of Health, and a research group affiliated with Oxford University based in Viet Nam. The results were reported directly to policy-makers at the Ministry of Health. Viet Nam is a low-income country with a health-care system that has seen considerable improvements and increased autonomy. However, parts of the system remain fairly centralized the Ministry of Health. Following the improved detection and reporting of S. suis cases, the Ministry of Health issued guidance to all hospitals in Viet Nam on the clinical and laboratory diagnosis, treatment and prevention of S. suis. A public health laboratory diagnostic service was established at the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology and training courses were conducted for clinicians and microbiologists. Ministry of Health guidance on surveillance and control of communicable diseases was updated to include a section on S. suis. Research collaborations can efficiently inform and influence national responses if they are well positioned to reach policy-makers.

The importance of co‐ordination in national technology policy: Evidence from the Galileo project1

We assess the benefits from transatlantic collaboration in technology policy for publicly‐funded R&amp;D space projects such as Galileo, a proposed European radio‐navigation space project. An industrial organisation methodology is employed to model negative security spillovers of ‘unilateral’ space projects such as Galileo, or space‐based anti‐ballistic missile defence, on the public sector of the other region (the US vs. the European Union). The findings imply that transatlantic co‐ordination in technology policy is required to allow the respective space industries (in the US and the European Union) to exploit the benefits of cross‐border strategic research partnerships (SRPs). This coordination not only reduces the costs of the respective programmes, but also addresses security concerns.

Strategy, Structure, and Performance Issues of Precompetitive R&amp;amp;D Consortia: Insights and Lessons Learned From SEMATECH

This paper examines the evolution of the role, structure, and orientation of SEMATECH in supporting the competitiveness of U.S. semiconductor industry between the late 1980s and the late 1990s. SEMATECH overcame its early challenges and succeeded by shifting its emphasis from horizontal (competitive) to vertical (precompetitive) collaboration, and then to a combined horizontal/vertical form (competitive). This evolutionary path in structure and strategy has broad implications for future relations between SEMATECH and the semiconductor industry as a whole, as well as industry R&D consortia in general. These implications are explored by detailing recent strategic developments at SEMATECH and their relationship to the market environment and structure in the global semiconductor manufacturing industry. This analysis is then extended to explore the implications for strategic research partnerships in other industries, which share particular salient characteristics with the semiconductor industry.

Data Requirements for Assessing the Private and Social Returns to Strategic Research Partnerships: Analysis and Recommendations

Existing studies of Strategic Research Partnerships (SRPs) suffer from data limitations that preclude an accurate assessment of the private and social returns to these activities. To address these limitations in a cost-efficient manner, statistical agencies should focus their data collection effort on public-private SRPs and measures of output and performance , including the role of SRPs in fostering technological diffusion and the creation of new products, firms, and industries. The collection of similar information from (observationally equivalent) firms not engaged in SRPs, including firms that applied for public funds and did not receive them, would also greatly improve our ability to evaluate government R&D programs. Government agencies should also partner with private organizations that have compiled data on SRPs and facilitate linkages between existing governments' datasets on SRPs and economic performance. The use of qualitative data should also be encouraged.

Strategic Research Partnerships: Empirical Evidence from Asia

This paper evaluates the role Strategic Research Partnerships (SRPs) play in Asia. Specific Asian institutional settings influence the roles of SRPs. Japan is regarded as a forerunner in the practice of SRPs. In Japan, lack of spillover channels, limited opportunities for mergers and acquisitions, weak university research and pressure for internal diversification motivate firms to form SRPs. In Korea, SRPs are regarded as a means to promote large-scale research projects. In Taiwan, SRPs are formed to facilitate technological diffusion. Empirical findings on SRPs, focusing on government-sponsored R&D consortia in Japan, are summarized. Issues regarding SRP formation, their effect on R&D spending of participating firms, and productivity, are examined. Reference is made to alternative forms of measurement of SRPs and their potential application to Asian countries is assessed. Enhancing the capacity of policy-makers to assess the extent and contribution of SRPs is considered to be a priority.

Strategic Research Partnerships: A Managerial Perspective

Private sector incentives to participate in research partnerships can be grouped roughly into two categories: cost-economizing incentives and strategic incentives. This paper summarizes the argument in two streams of thought that are often identified with these two sides: the transaction-cost/incomplete contracts approach and the strategic management approach. The paper recounts business motives to engage in research partnerships in each and points out that differentiating between more traditional economic perspectives (transaction costs, incomplete contracts) and strategic management/organizational theory perspectives (strategic networks, resource-dependent view, dynamic capabilities, knowledge-based view, organizational learning, options approach) may not be as sharp as one might suppose at first. The complementary nature of these perspectives should be encouraging for theoreticians looking for a more integrated model of collaboration.

Small-Firm Strategic Research Partnerships: The Case of Biotechnology

This paper provides an overview of the theoretical motivation and the empirical literature on small firm strategic alliances in biotechnology, an industry where these alliances have proliferated. We begin by examining the alliance strategy for knowledge-based small firms in general and then turn our attention to the case of biotech.

The Evaluation of Strategic Research Partnerships

Policy implications of strategic research alliances are analyzed, with emphasis on government-private sector cooperation, government support for private sector innovation, and evaluation of such government programs.

Strategic research partnerships and economic performance: empirical issues

A rapid rise in the incidence of strategic research partnerships (SRPs) involving firms, universities, non-profit organizations, and public agencies has stimulated an important public policy debate regarding whether these relationships enhance economic performance. In this paper, we present a taxonomy of SRPs and assess empirical studies of their effectiveness. We also identify data limitations that can preclude an accurate evaluation of the private and social returns to SRPs. We provide numerous suggestions for the collection and processing of additional data that would greatly improve our understanding of how these partnerships affect economic performance at the firm, industry, and aggregate levels. Copyright , Beech Tree Publishing.

An analysis of policy initiatives to promote strategic research partnerships

Strategic research partnerships (SRPs) have become a salient feature of the US National Innovation System. We provide an overview of SRPs and examine the antecedents and consequences of centerpiece legislation designed to stimulate the formation of SRPs: the National Cooperative Research Act (NCRA) of 1984. NCRA allows firms to disclose their research joint ventures (RJVs) to the Department of Justice, which enabled them to significantly reduce their exposure to antitrust litigation. We estimate an econometric model of trends in RJV filings and find that, as intended by the legislation, the propensity of firms to engage in RJVs is sensitive to changes in the global competitiveness of US high-technology industries. More importantly, our results suggest that the establishment of the Commerce Department’s Advanced Technology Program, which provides financial support to firms that engage in collaborative research projects, induced firms to engage in additional (privately financed) RJVs. This is a spillover mechanism that warrants further attention as national innovation systems evolve.