RESEARCH EVALUATION; 2009; 18(1):13 - 24

Benchmarking university-industry research cooperation worldwide: performance measurements and indicators based on co-authorship data for the world's largest universities

Affiliations: Leiden Univ, Leiden Univ

Abstract:
Surprisingly, there is still no comparative information as to which universities are among the world's major providers of science-based information and services to the business sector in general, and research-active industry in particular. This paper presents the first results of statistical analyses to help fill this information gap. Our case study of university-industry research cooperation patterns deals with the world's 350 largest research universities. The statistical data were derived from university-industry co-authored research publications (UICs) that were published during the years 2002-2006 and jointly authored by university researchers and staff employed by business enterprises. The results reveal a host of organizational variables that are likely to determine a university's UIC performance. The various UIC rankings highlight measurement issues and reveal significant differences depending on which UIC indicator is selected for comparison. We conclude that these UICs offer tin interesting new source of empirical data for domestic and international comparisons of research universities but, pending further validation studies, university-level UIC statistics should preferably be used only within non-evaluative multi-dimensional benchmarking frameworks rather than for university league tables.

Publication type:
Article in Journal

Journals:
Research evalution
  
Authors (2)
Research programs (2)
  
Prof. R.J.W. (Robert) Tijssen
Centre for Science and Technology Studies
Full professor of Science and Innovation Studies. MSc psychology, Leiden University (mathematical psychology, applied statistics), PhD in Science Studies, Leiden (1992). Member of CWTS management team. Visiting professor at Stellenbosch University (South Africa). TeachingCWTS lecturer on a range of ...
Dr. T.N. (Thed) van Leeuwen
Senior Researcher. MSc 1987 Political Sciences, University of Amsterdam, From February 1989 at CWTS. PhD Science Studies, 2004, Leiden. Coordinator for research performance projects. Currently involved in most bibliometric evaluations projects. Member of CWTS management team.