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Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2020

Collaboration in the Making-Towards a Practice-Based Approach to University Innovation Intermediary Organisations

Blix Germundsson, Lisa; Augustinsson, Soren; Liden, Alina

Abstract

The study aims to understand and explore situations of collaboration between various actors in connection with a university-driven innovation intermediary organisation, and how the intermediary organisation facilitates collaboration in the making. To this end, we employ a case of a university-driven long-lasting intermediary organisation within the agricultural and forestry sectors. We examine three collaborative situations, using practice-based research and process theories as theoretical perspectives. A narrative approach is adopted as the method of investigation. The findings are presented in a conceptual model where the structures of the intermediary organisation are translated into practices, against which individuals can develop their collaboration processes. It is concluded that collaboration in the making is formed in the interplay between structures, practices and processes in relations between people. This implies that the organising of collaboration should focus its attention not only on structures but also on the practices and processes formed between people. The study contributes to the understanding of the organising of university innovation intermediary organisations by untangling the relations between structures, practices and processes in situations of collaboration between people.

Keywords

agricultural innovation systems; university industry collaboration; interactive innovation; intermediation; sustainability transitions; transdisciplinarity; multi-stakeholder processes; learning; open innovation

Published in

Sustainability
2020, Volume: 12, number: 12, article number: 5142
Publisher: MDPI

    UKÄ Subject classification

    Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

    Publication identifier

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su12125142

    Permanent link to this page (URI)

    https://res.slu.se/id/publ/107129