@article{20bd72f02ca14bb99ce87598aed9af7c,
title = "Toward a Conceptual Model of Cooperative Research: Patterns of Development and Success in University-Industry Alliances",
abstract = "What are Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC's)? How do these National Science Foundation (NSF) supported centers develop? What makes them succeed of fail? A study of twenty (about half) of the current centers reveals that despite modest federal (NSF) support, the centers are able to attract substantial funding from industry, foundations, and state agencies. The study found that centers evolve in seven distinct stages—each with specific problems as well as distinct barriers and facilitators to center development and success. Based on the critical incident/events method, a generalized model of these seven stages is proposed for center growth and development. Implications for managers, researchers, and science policy-makers are discussed.",
keywords = "Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCR's), University industry alliances, cooperative research, industrial competitiveness, life-cycle, stage model of development, success factors",
author = "Eliezer Geisler and Antonio Furino and Kiresuk, {Thomas J.}",
note = "Funding Information: Abstract-What are Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC{\textquoteright}s)? How do these National Science Foundation (NSF) supported centers develop? What makes them succeed of fail? A study of twenty (about half) of the current centers reveals that despite modest federal (NSF) support, the centers are able to attract substantial funding from industry, foundations, and state agencies. The study found that centers evolve in seven distinct stages-each with specific problems as well as distinct barriers and facilitators to center development and success. Based on the critical incident/events method, a generalized model of these seven stages is proposed for center growth and development. Implications for managers, researchers, and science policy-makers are discussed. Funding Information: FORMULATING a predictive model of cooperative re-s earch has ceased to be the intellectual exercise of R&D specialist and science historians. It is the pragmatic objective of managers and policy makers. The ability of the United States to compete and cooperate with other nations has become a central factor in insuring balanced economic growth for the national economy and the rest of the world 111. The nature of the competitive problem involves the learning curve for survival in the world economy which begins with the redefinition of the national interest in the broader context of global competition and follows with understanding the evolutionary forces at play, seeing cooperation and competition as complementary rather than mutually exclusive objectives. To a certain extent cooperative R&D is seen as one mechanism to foster the nation{\textquoteright}s industrial competitiveness [2]-[4]. This paper is concerned with one of the oldest and more successful national mechanisms for industry-university cooperation: the Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRC{\textquoteright}s) sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Funding Information: III. THEN SF INDUSTRY-UNIVERCSOITOYP ERATIVE RESEARCPHR OGRAM One of the more successful mechanisms for industry-university cooperation has been the Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers Program (IUCRC{\textquoteright}s) sponsored by the National Science Foundation. This program started in 1972 under the Experimental R&D Incentives Program (ERDIP) of NSF [12], rapidly growing in the 1980{\textquoteright}s, into a substantial network of 41 currently operating centers (as of January 1990). The program represents the only experiment of its kind which, since its inception, has been systematically evaluated by independent observers chosen by the funding agency. To date, the program has brought together over 40 universities in association with over 500 supporting companies. In 1987-1988, industry support alone reached the $20 million mark. IUCRC{\textquoteright}s are engaged in diverse technical areas such as ceramics, polymers, telecommunications, steel research, materials handling, tribology, welding, ad process engineering [13]. Presently, of the 41 operating IUCRC{\textquoteright}s begun with NSF seed money and technical support, eleven centers are self-sustaining (NSF support ceases after the center reaches five years of age). Although much has been written on university-industry cooperation, there have been few systematic analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of the relationship [14], [15]. For example, in a comprehensive evaluation of IUCRC{\textquoteright}s, Gray et al. [21] described the average NSF supported center based on outcome and process measures, and provided correlations of structure-process variables with outcomes. Johnson and Tornatzky [20] studied university and industry scientists involved in 1 18 industry-university cooperative research projects. They provided a profile of scientists involved in cooperative R&D and their perceptions of the utility of such cooperation. Funding Information: b) Events generated by NSF: 1) Award of planning grant 2) NSF{\textquoteright}s funding commitment is given to center 3) NSF support for joint activities between centers 4) Reduction in NSF support. Funding Information: This paper is based on a study supported by the Center for Innovation Management Studies at Lehigh University. The authors appreciate the helpful comments from two anonymous referees on an earlier version of this paper. E. Geisler is also grateful for support provided him by the College of Business and Economics at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Copyright: Copyright 2015 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",
year = "1991",
month = may,
doi = "10.1109/17.78410",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "38",
pages = "136--145",
journal = "IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management",
issn = "0018-9391",
publisher = "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.",
number = "2",
}