Protecting the Public's Trust: A Search for Balance Among Benefits and Conflicts in University Industry Relationships

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9319891 SLAUGHTER As the economy shifts from a heavy emphasis on defense science and technology (S&T) to a focus on civilian S&T and the application of innovation to commercial markets, decision makers within universities, businesses and government agencies are eager to learn how to shape successful partnerships to develop technology that is beneficial to all participants and contributes to social and economic progress. Since 1980, the numbers of business-university partnerships have increased dramatically. Several authors have identified the problems and barriers that must be overcome and many have described the primary characteristics of university-industry relationships. However, few studies have investigated empirically the factors that influence organizations to become involved with each other and, as a possible result, increasingly share similar perspectives and interests. Given that the trend is toward greater numbers of partnerships, it would be useful to understand and identify empirically any compelling factors and normative behaviors that might exist between institutions and corporations, particularly those related to possible conflicts. This project investigates whether scientists and administrators involved in university-industry cooperation in corporations and universities share similar perspective and mutual interests, and, if so, to determine the implications for the two sets of institutions and for federal policy toward these institutions. The study seeks to understand the factors influencing university-industry relationships in order to provide decision makers with insight into issues and recommendations that might address this phenomenon. The research project consists of a survey instrument that will establish an empirical understanding of university and industry perceptions related to benefits, conflicts, and mutual interests. It will include universities and colleges from all the major Carnegie classifications as well as both small, medium, and large companies, delineated by Business Week (1993) and Inc. (Mangelsdorf 1992). Within these organizations, individuals from a variety of university administrative, academic, industry management, and scientific levels will be asked to participate. Also, persons involved in cooperative activities as well as those who are not will be included. The study focuses on potential conflicts and provides insight into possible implications of potential organizational transformations that may be occurring and experiences and mechanisms used to pursue mutually beneficiary cooperation while ameliorating potential conflicts.