Kathryn Walsh

University Industry Relationships and Open Innovation: Towards a Research Agenda

Organizations increasingly rely on external sources of innovation via inter-organizational network relationships. This paper explores the diffusion and characteristics of collaborative relationships between universities and industry, and develops a research agenda informed by an open innovation perspective. A framework is proposed, distinguishing university industry relationships from other mechanisms such as technology transfer or human mobility. On the basis of the existing body of research, the role of practices such as collaborative research, university industry research centres, contract research and academic consulting is analysed. The evidence suggests that such university industry relationships are widely practised, whereby differences exist across industries and scientific disciplines. While most existing research focuses on the effects of university industry links on innovation-specific variables such as patents or firm innovativeness, the organizational dynamics of these relationships remain under-researched. A detailed research agenda addresses research needs in two main areas: search and match processes between universities and firms, and the organization and management of collaborative relationships.

Small Firm Networks: A Successful Approach to Innovation?

This paper considers the increasing trend of inter-working among small firms. Networks of small firms co-operate in certain activities, such as marketing, purchasing, R&D, training or manufacturing. But does co-operation lead to innovation? To answer this question published evaluations of small firms co-operating for mutual benefit are reappraised. Inter-working among small firms is then investigated further by interviewing three network brokers. The brokers were funded by regional governments and they facilitated co-operation between small firms. These semi-structured discussions explored the key characteristics of successful networks, the responsibilities of the broker and the level of innovation occurring. Networking is primarily a competitive response. It needs to evolve into a mechanism to enable small firms to develop innovative products and processes jointly. Small firms may have to rethink their approach to co-operation, and their motives for initiating inter-working if they are to benefit fully from co-operation.

How Should Firms Evaluate Success in University-Industry Alliances? A Performance Measurement System

While firms increasingly engage in formal alliances with universities, there is a lack of tools to assess the outcomes of such collaborations. We propose a performance measurement system for university–industry alliances. We derive a success map from existing research on university–industry relations, indicating the causal relationships underpinning successful alliances. The success map distinguishes between different process stages, including inputs, in-process activities, outputs and impacts. We discuss specific measures for each of these stages, and how they should be deployed. The resulting framework includes both prospective and retrospective measures and subjective and objective measures. It provides research and development managers with a tool for assessing university–industry alliances that is prospective, reliable and multi-dimensional.

Enhancing technological capability through supplier development: a study of the UK aerospace industry

The current trend in the manufacturing industry is for large companies to focus on core competencies and to outsource more design and manufacture. Combined with the rationalization of the supplier base, this has meant that companies are increasingly dependent on key suppliers to continue providing competitive subsystems and subassemblies which incorporate advanced product and process technology. Suppliers in turn are reliant on their customers for information for innovation. This paper discusses the potential to enhance the technological capability of the supply network through supplier development (SD) schemes. Case studies of SD in the UK aerospace and defense sectors are presented in order to establish whether SD is enhancing technological capability in small companies in the UK supply base. The formal processes of SD are found to have little direct impact on supplier technological capability, but instead have an important indirect effect-primarily through strengthening relevant communication channels. There remains an opportunity for large companies to utilize SD to promote better technology management practices.

Technology Acquisition and the Changing Face of Manufacturing Industry

The structure of the UK manufacturing industry is shifting. The current trend is for large companies to focus on their core competencies and to reduce their supplier base. They now expect suppliers to provide modules and sub-assemblies with increasing integration and functionality. A review of the quantitative literature about knowledge inflows to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) indicates that small companies are heavily reliant upon customers for information for technological innovation. Further understanding of this relationship is gained in this study by qualitative means, through a series of semi-structured interviews with senior managers in SMEs. Their strategies for technology acquisition are explored, and the influence of customers on technology is observed to centre on short-term requirements, rather than future technology needs. SMEs may have to re-examine their strategies for evolving their technologies if they are to capitalize on the opportunities of manufacturing in the future.

Technological innovation within the supply chain

This paper considers how manufacturing companies within the supply chain are increasingly expected to provide technologically innovative solutions, rather than simple components. Large global companies are becoming system builders, but as they devolve greater responsibility for technology to suppliers, they are also squeezing cost and timescales. Planning for specific future technology requirements is becoming less relevant to the system builders, but is not a process widely recognised by suppliers. Small suppliers do not have the resources which the large, vertically integrated firms used to command. Technological innovation will however be necessary for the continuing and future success of the whole supply chain.

UK PCB Industry 1997 to 2003

This paper presents a snapshot of the status of the UK printed circuit board (PCB) industry in 2003. Comparisons are made with a similar study from 1997. Data are presented concerning employment and turnover within the industry, the number of manufacturing sites engaged in PCB manufacture and assembly, and the geographical location of these sites. Employment in PCB manufacture is found to have dropped by more than half, and there has also been a general shift from large firms with over 250 employees to medium‐sized firms with between 50 and 249 employees.