This is a multi-stage study of university-firm linkages for industrial innovation. A survey instrument designed and sent to the target population of 1600 units within the top 100 research universities. Surveys will be sent to directors of offices of patents and technology licensing as well as department chairs and selected researchers within disciplines of importance to industry and commanding sizable R&D resources (Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, and Physics). The survey data and information permit an empirical analysis of the extent and nature of university-industry interactions. Using these findings, a subset of approximately 12 selected participating university-firm groups for detailed case studies. The case studies consist of site visits to these units. Structured interviews conducted with firm managers, industrial researchers and technicians, university officials, faculty and research assistants, and staff personnel. Additionally, several non-participating like-firms identified and visited to determine why they do not involve themselves with the university. This stage of the study will have several primary foci: to define what participating firms and universities mean by "success", to assess the perspective of firm and university participants, to understand why like-firms decide not to create linkages with universities, to isolate specific factors identified as contributing to success or lack of success of university- industry interactions, and to increase our depth of understanding concerning how universities contribute to industrial innovation. A final report will be written which profiles university-firm interactions and presents students and decision makers with a systematic and generalizable analysis of success factors.
