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Industry–science interaction in innovation: the role of transfer channels and policy support

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We investigate the effects of different channels of industry-science collaboration on new product sales at the firm-level and whether government subsidies for collaboration make a difference. We distinguish four collaboration channels: joint R&D, consulting/contract research, IP licensing, human resource transfer. Employing firm-level panel data from the German Community Innovation Survey and a conditional difference-indifferences methodology, we find a positive effect of industry-science collaboration on product innovation success only for joint R&D, but not for the other three channels. The positive effect is limited to subsidized collaboration. Our results suggest that government subsidies are required to bring firms and public science into forms of collaboration that are effective in producing higher innovation output.

Source: Industry and Innovation

DOI: 10.1080/13662716.2025.2605974

Authors: Paolo Carioli, Dirk Czarnitzki, Christian Rammer

Institutions: Copenhagen Business School, KU Leuven, Centre for European Economic Research

Language: English

Topic: Innovation Policy and R&D

Subfield: Economics and Econometrics

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Industry, innovation and infrastructure, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: green

Funders: Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek, Vlaamse regering