Paper info: Collaborative Networks for Radical Innovation: A Science-to-Business Marketing Approach to Scientific Knowledge Commercialisation
Title
Collaborative Networks for Radical Innovation: A Science-to-Business Marketing Approach to Scientific Knowledge Commercialisation
Authors
Diana Nadine Boehm
Dublin City University
Ireland
Place of Publication
The paper was published at the 27th IMP-conference in Glasgow, Scotland in 2011.
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Abstract
Abstract:
The commercialisation of scientific knowledge has become a primary objective for universities worldwide. Collaborative research projects are viewed as a key to successfully achieving this objective and spur radical innovation. The establishment of collaborative networks for radical innovation within these complex multi-stakeholder research projects, however, remains under-researched. This paper is based on case study evidence from 82 stakeholders in 17 collaborative radical innovation projects in Irish and German universities. Utilising qualitative interviews with multiple stakeholders including principal investigators, centre managers, technology transfer managers, industry partners and government funding agents enables analysis of the true value of the various stakeholders‘ roles. It incorporates a holistic view of the process, as opposed to prior research which has tended to report findings based on analysis of one or two stakeholders. This article explores why and how collaborative networks for radical innovation are established from a multi-stakeholder perspective. It finds that (a) principal investigators play the main role in establishing trusting stakeholder relationships and (b) stakeholder satisfaction and loyalty contribute to the establishment of stakeholder retention. The findings suggest that in order to create collaborative networks for radical innovation it is important to retain industry partners and other stakeholders through repeated joint projects. Overall, the study reaffirms that collaborative stakeholder networks are a key conduit for radical innovation due to network capabilities. Finally, the implications of these findings for future research are discussed.
Keywords:
University Entrepreneurship, Collaborative Networks, Science-to-Business, Relationship Marketing
The commercialisation of scientific knowledge has become a primary objective for universities worldwide. Collaborative research projects are viewed as a key to successfully achieving this objective and spur radical innovation. The establishment of collaborative networks for radical innovation within these complex multi-stakeholder research projects, however, remains under-researched. This paper is based on case study evidence from 82 stakeholders in 17 collaborative radical innovation projects in Irish and German universities. Utilising qualitative interviews with multiple stakeholders including principal investigators, centre managers, technology transfer managers, industry partners and government funding agents enables analysis of the true value of the various stakeholders‘ roles. It incorporates a holistic view of the process, as opposed to prior research which has tended to report findings based on analysis of one or two stakeholders. This article explores why and how collaborative networks for radical innovation are established from a multi-stakeholder perspective. It finds that (a) principal investigators play the main role in establishing trusting stakeholder relationships and (b) stakeholder satisfaction and loyalty contribute to the establishment of stakeholder retention. The findings suggest that in order to create collaborative networks for radical innovation it is important to retain industry partners and other stakeholders through repeated joint projects. Overall, the study reaffirms that collaborative stakeholder networks are a key conduit for radical innovation due to network capabilities. Finally, the implications of these findings for future research are discussed.
Keywords:
University Entrepreneurship, Collaborative Networks, Science-to-Business, Relationship Marketing