In this thesis, the phenomenon of University - Industry Interaction (UII) is explored, specifically, from the perceptive of large enterprises. The motivation for addressing the phenomenon originated within society, the Government - University - Industry Research Round table, to gether with Committee on Science, Engineering and Policy, had organized a workshop, where overcoming UII related challenges have been discussed. Likewise, the number of studies, discussing the importance of solving challenges for UII, have grown significantly in the past two decades. However, there are lack of studies that would address UII phenomenon in a nar- row context. Therefore, in this study I am to answer RQ1: How can we visually/graphically present researchers’ profile data to the enterprises with the purpose to facilitate University – Industry Interaction? RQ2: How can we design metadata scheme and taxonomy so that it supports graphical visualizations of researchers’ profile data?
The study is a based on the methodological perspectives of interpretive phenomenology, and aims to understand phenomenon of UII by conducting a literature review. Elsevier’s Pure Portal is a Research Information Management System and is used as a typical case of the thesis, because it showcases researcher profile data visually, with the purpose to facilitate collaboration. Using convenience/purposive sampling method, three different informants from three large engineering companies, based in Northern Jutland, have been sampled for the interview study, where the prototype have been explored. The interview study has been planned using seven stages on an interview inquiry. Semi-structured interviews were transcribed and analyzed using NVivo software tool for qualitative data analysis. For the analysis, thematic meaning condensation process has been used to answer RQs.
The primary findings of the study suggest, that graphic visualizations are important and useful, because they provide quick information interpretation. However, they must be informative, efficient and present the context of use, in order to support UII. In order to support visualizations, metadata should provide meta-communication to provide description of the context and how visualizations have been generated. It has been found that useful metadata for identifying experts is the ’title’, ’department’, ’leader’. The multidisciplinarity is important, therefore, high-level granularity and specificity taxonomy is useful tool to sup- port visualizations. It has been found, that the ’publications’, ’subject’, ’topic’ is important
descriptions for identifying relevant publications and thereafter authors of the publications. Study found, that the important information is to see information about ’international collaborations’ between universities, also further information about external researchers, who are not the users of Pure Portal. Moreover, labels should be used to support the intended meaning of the visualization, this would support visualization.
Findings have contributed with an understanding about UII from perspective of large enterprises, in relation to graphic exposure, taxonomies and metadata on RIMS. Study findings suggest, that in order to facilitate UII, graphic visualizations must be informative. Informativeness can be supported by descriptive metadata and high-level granularity and specificity taxonomy. It is known, that RIMS are perceived as expensive and complex to start with, but a could be useful tool for the industry. However, RIMS are not used to search for experts, because strong channel for establishing UII are the personal connections. It is a part of organizational culture and considered to be sufficient form of interaction. Thesis have contributed with new findings and nuances to UII field from perspective of large enterprises, in the narrow context that point to new directions for future research.
Further work could explore UII from management perspective. The interesting finding, according to the thesis LR, suggest, that enterprise managers found it difficult to ’identify skills, their firms needed and then to develop personal relationship with academic experts’. Also, the interview study suggest, that RIMS could be useful from the perspective of management, because it would help to plan next steps in research. Therefore, industry professionals, who have management/planning positions within their enterprise, could be a relevant sample for the study, in order to explore, how useful/relevant RIMS from a different sample perspective. Also, other Danish or international universities could be sampled.