Absorptive Capacity, Research Output Sharing, and Research Output Capture in University-Industry Partnerships

At present, we have a very limited understanding of how the differences in partner absorptive capacity affect the distribution of innovative outcomes obtained in research-intensive collaborative projects. The current paper addresses this shortcoming by examining how firms and universities maintain the balance between the research output sharing and research output capture modes in their research partnerships. Through introducing a concept of the absorptive capacity gap, this study highlights the role of the relative/comparative dimensions of partner absorptive capacity in establishing the balance between relinquishing and taking control of the marketable innovative results achieved in university-industry collaborative projects. It offers a conceptual framework describing the joint impact of relative absorptive capacity and the absorptive capacity gap on the research output sharing/capture balance in university-industry collaboration. It also explores the potential shifts in this balance stemming from the influence of relationship-specific factors, such as mutual trust, positive prior ties, cognitive proximity, and cultural compatibility between the firms and universities. It concludes with theoretical and practical implications of the proposed framework for enhancing the knowledge-creating potential in university-industry collaboration.