TY - JOUR

T1 - Joint university-industry laboratories through the lens of proximity dimensions

T2 - moving beyond geographical proximity

AU - Mahdad, Maral

AU - Minh, Thai Thi

AU - Bogers, Marcel L. A. M.

AU - Piccaluga, Andrea

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - PurposeThere is little known about investigating the importance of all proximity dimensions simultaneously as a result of geographical proximity on university-industry collaborative innovation. This paper aims to answer the question of how geographically proximate university and industry influence cognitive, social, organizational, institutional and cultural proximity within university-industry joint laboratories and finally, what is the outcome of these interplays on collaborative innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses an exploratory multiple-case study approach. The results are derived from 53 in-depth, semistructured interviews with laboratory directors and representatives from both the company and the university within 8 joint laboratories of Telecom Italia (TIM). The data collection was carried out in 2014 and 2015. The analysis follows a multi-grounded theory approach and relies on a mix of deductive and inductive reasoning with the final goal of theoretical elaboration.FindingsThis study finds the role of social and cultural proximity at the individual level as a result of geographical proximity as an enabler of collaborative innovation by triggering mutual learning, trust formation and frequent interactions. Cognitive proximity at the interface level could systematically influence collaborative innovation, while organizational and institutional proximity has marginal roles in facilitating collaborative innovation. The qualitative analysis offers a conceptual framework for proximity dimensions and collaborative innovation within university-industry joint laboratories.Practical implicationsThe framework not only advances state-of-the-art university-industry collaboration and proximity dimension but also offers guidance for managers in designing collaborative innovation settings between university and industry.Originality/valueWith this study, the paper advances the understanding beyond solely the relationship between proximity and collaboration and shed light on the interplay between geographical proximity and other proximity dimensions in this context, which has received limited scholarly attention.

AB - PurposeThere is little known about investigating the importance of all proximity dimensions simultaneously as a result of geographical proximity on university-industry collaborative innovation. This paper aims to answer the question of how geographically proximate university and industry influence cognitive, social, organizational, institutional and cultural proximity within university-industry joint laboratories and finally, what is the outcome of these interplays on collaborative innovation.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses an exploratory multiple-case study approach. The results are derived from 53 in-depth, semistructured interviews with laboratory directors and representatives from both the company and the university within 8 joint laboratories of Telecom Italia (TIM). The data collection was carried out in 2014 and 2015. The analysis follows a multi-grounded theory approach and relies on a mix of deductive and inductive reasoning with the final goal of theoretical elaboration.FindingsThis study finds the role of social and cultural proximity at the individual level as a result of geographical proximity as an enabler of collaborative innovation by triggering mutual learning, trust formation and frequent interactions. Cognitive proximity at the interface level could systematically influence collaborative innovation, while organizational and institutional proximity has marginal roles in facilitating collaborative innovation. The qualitative analysis offers a conceptual framework for proximity dimensions and collaborative innovation within university-industry joint laboratories.Practical implicationsThe framework not only advances state-of-the-art university-industry collaboration and proximity dimension but also offers guidance for managers in designing collaborative innovation settings between university and industry.Originality/valueWith this study, the paper advances the understanding beyond solely the relationship between proximity and collaboration and shed light on the interplay between geographical proximity and other proximity dimensions in this context, which has received limited scholarly attention.

KW - Cognitive proximity

KW - Cultural proximity

KW - Organizational proximity

KW - Institutional proximity

KW - Geographical proximity

KW - Joint university-industry laboratories

KW - Social proximity

KW - University-industry collaboration

KW - Proximity dimensions

KW - Collaborative innovation

KW - GROUNDED THEORY

KW - INNOVATION

KW - KNOWLEDGE

KW - COLLABORATION

KW - SCIENTISTS

KW - LEADERSHIP

KW - REGIONS

U2 - 10.1108/IJIS-10-2019-0096

DO - 10.1108/IJIS-10-2019-0096

M3 - Journal article

VL - 12

SP - 433

EP - 456

JO - International Journal of Innovation Science

JF - International Journal of Innovation Science

SN - 1757-2223

IS - 4

ER -