The Impact of Previous Experience on Academic Engagement in University-Industry Collaborations in Emerging Economies

Motivations of academic researchers to engage in University-Industry Collaborations (UIC) are thoroughly studied in a Western, i.e. a European and US context, while research in other contexts, such as Emerging Economies (EE), is scarce. We investigate what the main motivations of EE academics to engage in UIC are and how previous experience of academics influences their motivation to engage in UIC. To answer our research question and test our propositions, we conduct a pilot survey among academics in three Vietnamese universities. We identify different profiles of academics vis a vis their engagement in UIC and identify their main motivations. The results of this study extend the literature on factors influencing an academic’s propensity to engage in collaborations with industry in emerging economies. University management, policy makers and managers in emerging economies can use the results of this paper to improve their strategies and policies to facilitate collaborations with universities.