Management Framework for Developing University-Industry Research Collaborations

This paper describes a management framework that has been successfully utilized at Imperial College London in the United Kingdom (the university) in order to improve the research development process and the management of university-industry research collaborations. This has been part of a systematic approach to increase the level of research contracts from industrial sources; to strengthen the university’s academic base as well as diversify the sources of research provision at the university. The strategy deployed has helped to generate a number of major new research programs with industrial companies over a five-year period. This management approach has been composed of two main platforms of activity, which are: The use of an industrial sector or channel focus (sector platform); and the development and use of structured management methodologies to facilitate the research collaboration process (process platform). The paper will include a literature review of supporting areas and then a discussion of the activities undertaken according to the aforementioned platform approach and as part of a case study investigation of the overall management framework. The paper will conclude with a set of recommendations for developing university-industry research collaborations.