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.

Academic researchers’ motivations to engage in university–industry collaboration in cross-border regions

“…In recent years, the number of studies has increased, showing that cross-border cooperation programs can become the driving force for the empowerment of local and regional communities in the face of nation-state dominance (Mascarenhas et al, 2022;Nadalutti, 2014). For example, in Europe with the abolition of borders, there have been several incentives for cross-border cooperation with the aim of greater European integration (Perkmann, 2003).…”

“…Furthermore, in recent years these two regions have had several projects financed by the Transborder Cooperation Operational Program (POCTEP-Interreg) with the support of the European Union. According to Mascarenhas et al (2022), in 2019, the Northern region's gross domestic product (GDP) represented 29.5% of the national GDP. In a five-year timeframe (2014)(2015)(2016)(2017)(2018)(2019), this region's economic growth has exceeded Portugal's average.…”

“…However, while the Northern region has been showing an increase in its innovation performance, which has earned it a rating of strong innovator, the Castille and Leon's region has been rated as a moderate innovator, with its innovation performance decreasing in recent years (Mascarenhas et al, 2022). Therefore, this cross-border region represents a relevant setting for research allowing us to conclude UICs based on two geographical areas with varying levels of research and innovation performance.…”

“…However, despite there being growth in UIC studies (e.g., Alexandre et al, 2022;Bamford et al, 2023;Dias & Selan, 2023;O'Dwyer et al, 2023;Schoen et al, 2014;Tian et al, 2022;Vivona et al, 2023), there are still few empirical studies that explore the motivations behind why some researchers engage in this type of collaboration and others do not (Kilian et al, 2015;Martínez-Ardila et al, 2023;Rossoni et al, 2023). Furthermore, little work has been carried out on UIC channels and the factors that possibly act as barriers, that is, that make participation in UIC difficult from the perspective of individual researchers, especially in cross-border regions (Knoll et al, 2021;Mascarenhas et al, 2022). A widely shared conclusion (e.g., Bertello et al, 2022;Freitas & Von Tunzelmann, 2008) is that policies cannot be transferred from one country to another and that in cross-border regions it becomes difficult to reach consensus between countries.…”

Innovation for environmental sustainability: business models for SMEs

“…Highlighting the role of knowledge networks, where universities act as knowledge catalysts, it is expected to find BMs centered around cooperation between the university and industry (Mascarenhas et al ., 2022), aiming to boost innovation, productivity and competitiveness (Atta-Owusu et al ., 2021).…”