University-Industry Collaborative Projects: Analysis and Proposal of Management Practices

Abstract

This study aims to identify good managerial practices on university-industry collaborative projects. The literature review was based on studies that analyzed management of collaborative projects and included authors such as Davenport et al. (1998), Moro-Valentin et al (2003), Barnes et al (2006), and Albertin and Amaral (2010). An empirical research was carried out by studying multiple cases of University-Industry collaborative projects in Brazil. Project managers, entrepreneurs and researchers involved in such projects answered a semi-structured interview that helped understand how they are managed. Results showed that best practices already suggested by literature are implemented, as well as new practices that are positively associated with project performance. Setting clear and realistic goals, defining clear responsibilities, writing clear agreements, and communicating effectively were practices found in literature. New practices consisted of maintaining close contact with partners, systematically recording information on the project, conducting startup meetings to formalize and disseminate information about the project, holding periodical meetings to monitor the project, using software or a project management platform, and clearly defining processes. A guide presenting ten best practices for managing University-Industry collaborative projects was created based on the results found in this study.

Context perspective on University-Industry Collaboration processes: A systematic review of literature

“…Trust factors (Bstieler et al, 2017) • Boundary spanning Intermediation process (Theodorakopoulos et al, 2012) The brokering role (Theodorakopoulos et al, 2012) Intermediation enablers (Theodorakopoulos et al, 2012) Boundary objects and boundary events (Theodorakopoulos et al, 2012) • Collaboration management (May et al, 2011); (Wang et al, 2017), • Collaboration study perspectives Research collaboration (Wang et al, 2017), (May et al, 2011), (Kayser et al, 2018), Academic entrepreneurship (Dalmarco et al, 2018) Holistic perspective (Nakwa et al, 2012), (Kruss et al, 2015), (Schiller and Lee, 2015).…”

“…(Wang et al, 2017);(Harris and Lyon, 2013);(Bjerregaard, 2009);(Nielsen and Cappelen, 2014);(Canhoto et al, 2016);(Muscio and Vallanti, 2014);(Mikkonen et al, 2018);(Chaves et al, 2015);(Zaharia, 2017);(Zavale and Macamo, 2016);(Attia, 2015);(Gertner et al, 2011);(Bstieler et al, 2014);(Zaharia and Kaburakis, 2016);(Biscotti et al, 2012);(Fernandes et al, 2015);(May et al, 2011);(Lemos and Cario, 2017);(Tsubouchi et al, 2008);(Ryan et al, 2008);(Kayser et al, 2018);(Styhre and Lind, 2010);(Belkhodja and Landry, 2007); (O'Reilly and Cunningham, 2017);(Garousi et al, 2016);(Motoyama, 2014);(Kunttu, 2017);(Fernandes et al, 2018),(Lee, 2014) S.U. Nsanzumuhire, W. Groot / Journal of Cleaner Production 258 (2020) 120861…”

Gestión de Proyectos de Investigación e Innovación bajo el Modelo de la Triple Hélice

“…Aunque existen desafíos en la ejecución de este enfoque, las acciones de mitigación como la comunicación intensiva con socios externos y la facultad respectiva, y la gestión cuidadosa de los proyectos, brindan una mayor probabilidad de éxito puesto que demuestran que la universidad es un socio viable. De la misma manera, Kayser et al (2018) proponen la identificación y análisis de buenas prácticas de colaboración Universidad-Industria, como una buena herramienta dentro de la gestión de proyectos CTeI e I+D+i.…”