Time allocations across collaborations of academic scientists and their impact on efforts to commercialize novel technologies: is more always better? |
| |
Authors: | Dirk Libaers |
| |
Institution: | Entrepreneurship & Innovation Group, D'Amore-McKim School of Business, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115 USA |
| |
Abstract: | We investigate how time spent in different collaborative research arrangements by academic scientists affect their propensity of involvement in the commercialization of novel, university-originated technologies. Three common collaborative strategies used by academic scientists: (1) internal (within the research group or within the home university) research collaboration; (2) cosmopolitan research collaboration (with scientists in other US or foreign universities); or (3) university–industry research collaboration are assessed. Drawing on the concepts of cognitive and spatial distance, the empirical findings suggest that only one internal research collaboration strategy has a significant impact on the propensity of academic scientists to engage in the commercialization of novel technologies with a private firm; however, this relationship is inverse U shaped. More importantly, academic scientists adopting a university–industry collaboration strategy and spending more research time in such an arrangement have a significantly stronger propensity for being involved in technology commercialization with a private firm; however, this relationship is inverse U shaped as well. We discuss the managerial and policy implications of the findings. |
| |
Keywords: | |
|
|