Evaluating and Managing the Performance of University–Industry Partnerships

Abstract

The central concern of this article is with the question of how to evaluate and manage the performance of emerging university–industry research networks. It is argued that university–industry (UI) partnerships have, after more than a decade of promotion by the state, reached a point where both partners are actively seeking each other out. Despite the recognition of the potential benefits of co-operation by both sides, there are still several unanswered questions about how to assess and manage such co-operation. The article describes the national science system as one where a ‘central rule’ environment has been gradually replaced by forms of intervening R&D networks. It is further argued that such networks require new approaches to evaluate performance. The article concludes by proposing an aggregate of a number of indicators that may be used for dynamic network management.