How academic researchers select collaborative research projects: a choice experiment

The Journal of Technology Transfer, vol. 46, pp. 1917–1948

Abstract

Abstract Although many studies have been conducted on the drivers of and barriers to research collaborations, current literature provides limited insights into the ways in which individual researchers choose to engage in different collaborative projects. Using a choice experiment, we studied the factors that drive this choice using a representative sample of 3145 researchers from Western Europe and North America who publish in English. We find that for most researchers, the expected publication of research in scientific journals deriving from a project is the most decisive factor driving their collaboration choices. Moreover, most respondents prefer to collaborate with other partners than industry. However, different factors’ influence varies across groups of researchers. These groups are characterised as going for the ‘puzzle’ (60% of the sample), the ‘ribbon’ (33%) or the ‘gold’ (8%), i.e., primarily oriented toward intellectual goals, recognition or money, respectively. This heterogeneity shows that a combination of interventions will be required for governments aiming to promote university–industry collaborations.

Authors 2

1. Frank J. van Rijnsoever corresponding

   Utrecht University · Universitat Politècnica de València · Instituto de Gestión de la Innovación y del Conocimiento

   Affiliation as printed

   INGENIO (CSIC-UPV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Valencia, Spain

   Innovation Studies, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands

   Innovation Studies, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, Princetonlaan 8a, 3584 CB, Utrecht, The Netherlands

2. Laurens K. Hessels corresponding Aachen Centre for Science and Technology Studies

   Leiden University · Rathenau Instituut

   Affiliation as printed

   Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS), Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands

   Rathenau Instituut, The Hague, The Netherlands