Industry and academe working together: factors that give life to initial and continuing success

Abstract

This paper stresses that industry and academe can successfully work together to advance learning and new technologies. In order to help stimulate these potentially powerful linkages, this exploratory study examined the key determinants for establishing and sustaining these relationships along with the subsequent learning and technology outcomes generated. Results using LISREL analyses reveal that several determinants are particularly important for advancing learning and technology outcomes in the initial and continuing stages of the relationships. These determinants include: trust, flexible university policies for intellectual property rights, effective communication and the presence of champions. The implications for these findings are also discussed.