Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
The 25 key informants included managers and scientists from large, medium sized
and small pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies involved in collaborative
research and development (GSK, Merck, Syngenta, J&J (USA), Abbott (USA), Tep-
nel Sciences and MicroTest Matrices); managers from technology transfer offices in
major UK, European, and US universities (Imperial College London, University Col-
lege London, Oxford, Dundee, MIT and Columbia); representatives from the ven-
ture capital and business angel financing communities; and Government officials
from the UK Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). In the interviews we explored
(1) strategies and structures adopted for partnering, (2) strategies for finding partners
and choosing projects, and (3) factors which helped R&D partnerships work.
Data emerging from the interviews were augmented by further data collected
through a questionnaire survey of university business development managers at 33
UK universities with technology transfer offices to explore their R&D partnering
activities with industry. There were 20 respondents (a response rate of 65%). Data
emerging from the survey was integrated with the interview findings for triangula-
tion and thematic analysis.
Additional case material was collected from published sources to illustrate the
partnership arrangements referred to by key informants.
Our study has certain limitations. We adopted a qualitative method and used the-
oretical rather than random sampling. To overcome these limitations we maintained
a systematic approach to our research rigour at every stage of the study — in design,
sampling, analysis and interpretation — with independent reflexive thematic analy-
sis which allowed triangulation between team members (Mays and Pope, 1995). Our
sample, though not statistically representative, was theoretically informed, relevant
to the research questions and hence appropriate to our research.
Results
General partnering activities
Of the 20 universities interviewed or surveyed, 15 already had industry partners, with
three stating that they were “nearly there” in terms of setting up new partnerships,
and only two with no partnerships but “some leads”. Amongst these, general levels of
R&D partnering, as opposed to arm's length contracting, were increasing. However,
only seven respondents felt their industry interactions were working well or very
well, while nine respondents stated that they had mixed or little success to date.
Companies involved in R&D partnerships had a greater level of experience
than their university partners, with some engaged in “about two dozen research
collaboration agreements with academic institutions in the last five years”. About
half of the partnerships entered into by the companies involved in the study were
local (UK), with the rest spread among many countries including US, Europe, and
the Far East.
Search WWH ::




Custom Search