SOCIAL NETWORK ANALYSIS AS A NEW METHODOLOGICAL TOOL TO UNDERSTAND UNIVERSITY–INDUSTRY COOPERATION

Purpose: This work tests the use of social network analysis (SNA) as a new methodological approach to better understand university–industry (U–I) relationships in the context of research and development (R&D) cooperation networks for innovation.Methodology: Following a thorough review of the literature on U–I links from the last two decades, focusing on methodologies, SNA was applied to data on work relationships, obtained through a survey of the participants from University and Industry, engaged on a FP7 project.Findings: SNA is suggested as a useful and relevant tool to understand and examine U–I R&D cooperation at both personal and organizational levels. In support of this statement, several examples and an empirical illustration are provided. The assessment of the processes underlying the establishment and maintenance of U–I relationships within R&D cooperation with SNA suggested that interpersonal relationships are crucial for the establishment of successful cooperative activities. Unlike other tools, SNA allows the recognition of preferential relationships between institutions, and reveals asymmetries from within the U–I R&D network.Originality/value: This paper addresses the interactional dynamics embedded in U–I links. Most studies regarding U–I links focus on describing the downstream processes associated with technology transfer and commercialization. This study applies SNA to understand the ex ante establishment and maintenance of U–I relationships within R&D cooperation. The high volatility of these relationships, in view of the importance of the expected outcomes, justifies the need to understand the fundamentals of successful cooperation.