Business School-Industry Cooperation: Lessons from Case Studies

University-industry collaboration is seen as an important contributor to innovation as new thinking is transferred from seats of learning into practical products and services. In particular, this seems to be the case where firms seek access to knowledge of new technologies and technical problem solving. However, is it relevant in the case of business schools? The study reported in this paper is based on insights gained from membership of a long standing network between business schools and firms in the automotive industry supported by the EU's Leonardo project. The research reported in based on a detailed examination of practical cases of joint business school-firm activities. Based on this case analysis, a model is presented along with emerging critical success factors for sustainable joint activities across the different modes identified. Finally, areas for further research are highlighted