Affiliations: [a] School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Haidian, Beijing, China
| [b] Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan
| [c] Director Research, University of Gujrat, Jalalpur Jattan Road, Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan
| [d] Department of Management Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari, Pakistan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Fujun Hou, School of Management and Economics, Beijing Institute of Technology, 5 South Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing Postcode: 100081, China. Tel.: +86 13683516538; E-mail: houfj@bit.edu.cn.
Abstract: To assess the current situation of collaborative university-industry (U-I) linkages in Pakistan, a questionnaire was disseminated to both public and private universities and industries, checking the propensity for such linkages. The results show multiple constraints imposed on collaborative U-I linkages from both sides. Factor analysis allows comparing whether both universities and industries identify the same constraints or not. Apparently, engineering departments exhibit more collaborative U-I linkages than other disciplines, while humanities departments are awarded the minimum of such linkages. The paucity of proper arrangements, procedures, mechanisms, and structures for collaboration seems to be one of the most important impediments to collaborative U-I linkages. Furthermore, on the one hand, university people see the lack both of time, owed to a heavy workload, and of laboratory facilities for research and development work, as predominant constraints to U-I interactions. On the other hand, industry people cite as prominent barriers the low commercialization potential of university research and the lack of interest among academics to collaborate with the industry. Despite its qualifications, the study concludes with practical policymaking recommendations and future research suggestions.
