Quality of interactions between public research organisations and firms: lessons from Costa Rica

Date

2010

Authors

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Beech Tree Publishing

Abstract

Interactions between public research organisations (PROs) and firms may contribute to innovation and production-related benefits for firms and intellectual and economic benefits for researchers. This paper studies the impact of different channels (traditional, bi-directional, services and commercial) on the benefits received by firms and researchers in Costa Rica. We conclude that the traditional channel may generate benefits related to firms’ short-term production activities and also their long-term innovation activities. However, it is not relevant to explaining the benefits for researchers. Strengthening collaboration networks using the traditional channel seems to be the mechanism to improve the contribution of PROs to innovation in industry. Contrary to expectations, the bi-directional channel is not significant in explaining the intellectual benefits for researchers, but it helps to explain the economic benefits for researchers and also both types of benefits for firms. Thus, it does not explain the quality of interactions from the researcher’s point of view, but it explains it for firms.

Description

Keywords

COSTA RICA, RESEARCH CENTRES, UNIVERSITIES, INDUSTRY, INNOVATION, SURVEYS, ECONOMETRICS, RESEARCH NETWORKS, ORGANIZATION OF RESEARCH, INFORMATION EXCHANGE, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

Citation

Orozco, J., & Ruiz, K. (2010). Channels and benefits of interactions between public research organisations and industry: comparing four Latin American countries. Science and Public Policy, 37(7): 527–540. doi: 10.3152/030234210X512034

DOI