An empirical study of methods and techniques used in the interface between universities and industry in a research consortium

Summary form only given, as follows. The author describes an empirical study which explored the usage of the techniques and methods in the interface between universities and industry in a research consortium environment. The study identifies the techniques universities use to interact with industrial advisory boards, composed of corporate representatives. The study also explores the frequency of use and the effectiveness/success of the use of such methods and techniques. The empirical study relies on both archival and survey data in a sample of 20 industry-university cooperative research centers. Some methodological issues are described, and the implications for the management of research consortia are discussed. The results show that there are similarities in the type of techniques and frequency of usage of these techniques by universities which are successful in maintaining their consortia members