ZALLUHOĞLU, A. Erhan Ege Üniversitesi - Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakültesi - Isletme Bölümü, Turkey , CANDEMIR, Aykan Ege Üniversitesi - Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakültesi - Isletme Bölümü, Turkey , BAYBARS, Miray Ege Üniversitesi - Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakültesi - Isletme Bölümü, Turkey , KARSLI, Cihat Ege Üniversitesi - Iktisadi ve Idari Bilimler Fakültesi - Isletme Bölümü, Turkey

THE CHALLENGES IN UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION: AN INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS EXAMPLE IN İZMİR

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Knowledge is one of the most important factors to gain competitive advantage in a rapid evolution of the complex business environment. Universities have a critical role in this system by generating information and transforming them into new technologies for companies. Although, collaboration between industry and universities is a difficult and complex process, it is a highly important mechanism of national innovation system. Therefore, the institutions which are likely to help the industries on their developmental issues are considered as. University-industry collaboration is expected to affect the value chain positively, foster companies’ competitive power and will bring about the economic growth and social development. The aim of this study is to examine the problems at the collaboration between universities and industries and making suggestions to develop collaborations. In order to shed a light on the issue, in depth interviews with the managers of a family run business in Ġzmir have been carried out on their experiences of university-industry collaboration. The reasons preventing the university-industry collaboration on the specific case of this business – which is categorized in SME status-, are found to be the high self confidence of the firm (owners/managers), lack of confidence to universities, evaluation of collaboration in terms of technical dimension only, lack of mutual communication and lack of a structured approach. Knowledge is the most important factor to gain competitive advantage in a rapid evolution of the business complex environment. Universities have a critical role in this world by generating information and transforming them into new technologies for companies.

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University , Industry Collaboration , University , Barriers on Collaboration , Innovation

Ege Strategic Research Journal

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