Changing political and economic climates in the U.S. over the past decade have resulted in increasing partnerships between universities and industries. Decision makers in government, business and universities are eager to learn how to shape and encourage successful allliances. An earlier study by these investigators examined three types of conflicts that might affect their progress: conflict of interest, conflict of commitment, and conflict over internal equity. In this second phase, the investigators will explore a number of ambiguities with respect to such issues as modifications to traditional teaching loads and reduced interaction with students, allocation of credit and intellectual property, and oversight of faculty-industry interactions, that surfaced in the initial project. The research consists of personal and telephone interviews with university administrators and science and engineering faculty at institutions with industry funds. Its goal is to establish a clear understanding of the ways that ambiguities and related issues are being resolved. It will identify and analyse administrators' and faculty's insights and responses with regard to such issues as allocation of time, publications restrictions, and incentives in order to understand how they are being resolved to foster successful university-industry relationships. Success here refers to the extent to which the various participants resolve or minimize potential conflicts. The study will utilize participants' perspectives to determine the implications for the colleges and universities and for federal policy toward these institutions, by focusing on specific ways successful partnerships are being nurtured and providing insight into the possible implications of organizational transformations that may be occurring to accommodate these relationships.
