University–Industry Collaboration in Turkish SMEs

Abstract

<jats:p> University–industry collaboration and innovation are popular topics in emerging countries. Although the main premise is that such collaboration and innovation increase firm performance, the empirical evidence is inconclusive. Drawing on a sample of 79 Turkish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the authors find negative direct effects of innovation-based strategy and university collaboration on the profit growth of firms. However, where there is fierce market competition, they find that an innovation-based strategy increases profit growth and that collaboration with universities needs to exceed a certain level before the benefits are manifested in profit growth. These results contribute to the debate on the role of innovation and university collaboration in the profit growth of SMEs in emerging countries. For managers, the implications are that an innovation-based strategy is important in competitive markets in emerging countries, and that university collaboration needs to be taken more seriously and must involve higher levels of effort and commitment if benefits are to emerge; otherwise, companies may decide against working with universities. </jats:p>

Cooperation between universities and SMEs: A systematic literature review

“…It also reveals that U–SME cooperation is sometimes the result of partnerships encouraged by government programmes (Malairaja and Zawdie, 2008; Pickernell et al, 2019). In developing countries, research does not produce rigorous results due to the low level of cooperation between parties (Temel et al, 2013).…”

“…SMEs’ performance was measured by Temel et al (2013) as a result of U–SME cooperation. However, that result is more perceptible when the cooperation is deeper, suggesting that such a benefit can take time to appear (Temel et al, 2013).…”

“…SMEs’ performance was measured by Temel et al (2013) as a result of U–SME cooperation. However, that result is more perceptible when the cooperation is deeper, suggesting that such a benefit can take time to appear (Temel et al, 2013). If SMEs can increase their performance levels when they cooperate with a university, that increased performance can then encourage them to embark on new cooperative projects (Jones and Zubielqui, 2017).…”

“…The situation in other than developed countries has been little studied. In the sample selected, Zimbabwe (Saruchera et al, 2014), Turkey (Temel et al, 2013) and Mexico (Merritt, 2015) were subjects of research. In Zimbabwe, the focus was on aspects related to teaching, especially further education, to promote a continuous flow of qualified workers for the local manufacturing industry, so that SMEs could play a greater part in that sector.…”

Innovation success in an emerging economy: A comparison of R&D‐oriented companies in Turkey

“…In addition, Beyhan and Fındık (2014) emphasize the importance of firms' internal R&D activities and open innovation strategies for the likelihood of a collaboration with universities, thereby gaining access to external scientific knowledge (Beyhan & Fındık, 2014). However, findings from Temel et al (2013) indicate negative effects on the profit growth of firms between innovation strategies and collaboration with university (Temel et al, 2013). Empirical evidence by Lenger and Taymaz (2006) reveals findings about innovation activities and technology transfer of foreign and domestic firms in the Turkish manufacturing industry.…”