Reaching For The Stars: Exclusivity & Matching Basic Research Capabilities In Firm-University Links

Abstract:Although prior studies have suggested that firms' involvement in basic scientific research, including collaboration with university scientists, can improve firms’ technological performance, little is known about the underlying mechanisms behind the performance benefits and the contingencies for such benefits to occur. The contributions of this paper are the following. First, it aims to clarify how firms strategically use exclusive partnerships with star university scientists to increase their technological performance. Second, it analyzes the basic research capabilities required on the side of the firm in order to enter partnerships with top university researchers so these collaborations yield the highest possible benefit to the firm. We draw on a unique panel dataset of 175 leading firms in the global biopharmaceutical industry, covering firm's (collaborative) publication efforts, information on universities as alliance partners, and patent applications with their forward and backward citations.

Publication year:2011

Accessibility:Open

Review status:Peer-reviewed