Collaborative university–industry R&D practices supporting the pharmaceutical innovation process: Insights from a bibliometric review

Zhongxuan Ma*, Kevin Augustijn, Iwan J.P. de Esch, Bart Bossink

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalReview articleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

University–industry collaborative research and development (UIC R&D) is generally seen as a driver of the pharmaceutical innovation process. Here, we perform a bibliometric review of UIC R&D practices over the past 30 years (1991–2020) by analyzing 800+ publications. At the strategic level of organizational cooperation patterns, the analysis shows that pharmaceutical UIC R&D mainly aims at strategic alliance formation, which gears toward universities and companies collaboratively exploring and commercializing technological breakthroughs. At the structural level of universities and companies investing in cooperation and aligning their activities, analytical results indicate that universities and companies organize themselves as interdependent entities in an open innovation ecosystem. At the cultural level of generally accepted collaboration norms and habits, analytical results show that university–company partnerships are becoming a rule rather than an exception. This study delves into a 30-year history of UIC R&D practices that support the pharmaceutical innovation process. It provides academics and practitioners with an insight into possible strategies for UIC R&D in the future and presents avenues for science, business and innovation research.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2333-2341
Number of pages9
JournalDrug Discovery Today
Volume27
Issue number8
Early online date10 May 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 The Authors

Keywords

  • Big pharma
  • Drug development
  • Innovation ecosystem
  • Strategic management
  • University–industry collaboration

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