Contingent knowledge transfers in university–industry R&D projects

Abstract

This paper explores knowledge transfers inside University–Industry collaborative research as the objective and scope of R&D activities vary. First, we contribute to a dynamic perspective on inter-organizational knowledge transfers by providing a new typology of University–Industry collaborative research. Second, we provide propositions related to contingent knowledge transfers, i.e. alignment between the nature of a project and the expected transfers. If such an alignment should ideally be built starting in the design phase, we demonstrate that a lack of alignment can be corrected as the collaborative research is iterated. Those iterations are experienced by partners as highly emotional events, influencing the rest of the collaborative work through what we call the pivot complex.