Absorptive Capacity, Research Output Sharing, and Research Output Capture in University-Industry Partnerships

Alexander Lascaux

Scandinavian Journal of Management, 2019, vol. 35, issue 3

Abstract: At present, we have a very limited understanding of how the differences in partner absorptive capacity affect the distribution of innovative outcomes obtained in research-intensive collaborative projects. The current paper addresses this shortcoming by examining how firms and universities maintain the balance between the research output sharing and research output capture modes in their research partnerships. Through introducing a concept of the absorptive capacity gap, this study highlights the role of the relative/comparative dimensions of partner absorptive capacity in establishing the balance between relinquishing and taking control of the marketable innovative results achieved in university-industry collaborative projects. It offers a conceptual framework describing the joint impact of relative absorptive capacity and the absorptive capacity gap on the research output sharing/capture balance in university-industry collaboration. It also explores the potential shifts in this balance stemming from the influence of relationship-specific factors, such as mutual trust, positive prior ties, cognitive proximity, and cultural compatibility between the firms and universities. It concludes with theoretical and practical implications of the proposed framework for enhancing the knowledge-creating potential in university-industry collaboration.

Keywords: absorptive capacity; research collaboration; university-industry partnerships; research output sharing; research output capture (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0956522118301842
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:scaman:v:35:y:2019:i:3:s0956522118301842

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/872/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... me/872/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.scaman.2019.03.001

Access Statistics for this article

Scandinavian Journal of Management is currently edited by Janne Tienari

More articles in Scandinavian Journal of Management from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().