Collaboration potential between low-capacity SMEs and academic researchers determined by symmetry of motivation

While university-industry collaboration has received widespread attention in academic literature and policy making, there is still limited knowledge on how low-capacity SMEs engage in open innovation activities. Building on a survey conducted among Estonian SMEs with limited innovation capacity, our research focuses specifically on aspects that help low-capacity SMEs and academic researchers to collaborate. The sample was selected purposefully using an innovation voucher database. Our research results indicate that collaboration is fostered by the perceived symmetry of motivation between partners, or paradoxically, the perceived higher motivation of the academic partner rather than the motivation of the SME itself. Our analysis suggests that motivation symmetry between partners plays a crucial role in determining the collaboration process and outcome between low-capacity SMEs and academic researchers.

Automated summary

This research found that in the collaboration process between low-capacity SMEs and academic researchers, the motivation symmetry between partners plays a crucial role.