Is cognitive proximity a driver of geographical distance of university–industry collaboration?

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between geographical and cognitive proximity in university–industry collaboration in Brazil. Data from university–industry collaborations were used and a measure for cognitive proximity was built based on correspondence analysis. The main results show that cognitive proximity is a substitute for geographical proximity because shared capabilities and expertise between a university and the collaborating firm stimulate long-distance collaboration. The results provide new empirical evidence for the relationship between geographical proximity and a form of non-spatial proximity in a developing country. Moreover, these findings add a new driver, cognitive proximity, that affects long-distance university–industry collaboration.