- The purpose has been to analyze the impacts of collaborative research between universities and firms, as compared with similar research conducted without firms. In doing so, I have examined and selected among measures of impact, both scientific and technological, as well as variables that capture relevant dimensions of collaborative research, says Viktor.
The result is primarily evidenced by higher citation counts from both scholarly literature and patents. Moreover, dual-affiliated professors, constituting one type of boundary spanner between academia and industry, as well as a greater number of authors are associated with higher article impact. Additionally, the findings add to the discussion on academic success metrics, emphasizing the need for a balanced approach in which the real-world application of research is recognized alongside academic prestige, while being cautious of the pitfalls associated with overreliance on journal reputation alone.
What significance do the results have for research and the society?
I am optimistic that these results significantly contribute to the academic engagement literature and ongoing debates about measuring academic success. By presenting these findings to practitioners, I aim to increase awareness about the potential value of such collaborations and foster a better understanding of the challenges commonly encountered in these collaborations, ultimately leading to more impactful collaborative research projects. I already had the pleasure of doing this during a workshop organized by the Department of Electrical Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology.
Additionally, I believe these findings can inform policy decisions aimed at fostering and supporting collaborative research efforts between academia and industry, thereby facilitating innovation and knowledge dissemination on a broader scale.
What are your future plans?
After my dissertation, I plan to continue my involvement in both research and industry. Over the past two years, I have been fortunate to work part-time as a researcher in the industry, specifically at Esmaeilzadeh Holding. This dual affiliation, as we term it, aligns well with my interests and strengths. I believe that balancing roles in academia and industry has positively impacted not only my academic achievements but also my teaching responsibilities, which hold great importance to me.
Link to dissertation
Viktor Ström defended his doctoral dissertation “Engineering lmpact: Analyzing the Scientific and Technological Outcomes of Collaborative Research between Universities and Firms” during the public defence held on 26 March 2024 at the School of Business, Economics and Law at the University of Gothenburg.
Link to dissertation: https://hdl.handle.net/2077/79509
