University-Industry Programs as Platforms: A Case Study of Multi-Disciplinary Collaborative Network Development

Abstract

This paper shows how University-Industry (UI) liaisons can be studied in light of the emerging and insightful literature on platforms. Applying the concept of platforms to University-Industry programs, this paper describes one industry affiliate program and analyzes its synergistic impact on multidisciplinary involvement and collaboration network development. Insights and recommendations are made for catalyzing mutually beneficial collaborations through research themes as mechanisms for platform orchestration.