In an era of accelerating technological complexity and societal transformation, multi-sector university–industry collaborations (UICs) have become vital arenas for co-creating and exchanging knowledge across institutional and industrial boundaries. Yet, industrial organizations often struggle to harness the full potential of such collaborations, particularly when it comes to effectively sharing, recognizing, and leveraging knowledge among diverse actors from different industries. Much of the existing research remains centered on the academic perspective of UIC, typically portraying universities as the primary source of knowledge. Such a framing tends to overlook the industrial perspective, especially the potential of industry-to-industry knowledge sharing and the perspective of firms with limited UIC experience. Furthermore, previous research has largely focused on dyadic university-industry ties and immediate project-level outcomes, with less attention to the structural, organizational, and social dynamics that support knowledge exchange across industries, and how this knowledge is later integrated within firms and diffused to the broader knowledge ecosystem.

This thesis addresses these gaps by exploring how collaboration-level structures and firm-level actions influence the sharing and leveraging of knowledge within and beyond multi-sector UICs. It is based on a compilation of five empirical research articles grounded in case studies of multi-sector UIC initiatives in Sweden and Denmark, involving diverse industries, academic actors, and intermediaries. Data was collected mainly through interviews and observations. The analysis covers collaboration structures and practices, boundary-spanning roles, industrial engagement strategies, and actions related to internal knowledge dissemination.

The thesis makes three key contributions. First, it identifies collaboration-level structures, both formal and informal, that support cross-industry knowledge sharing and ecosystem shaping. Second, it highlights industrial-level actions that enable deep internal knowledge integration, with attention to experience, engagement, and organizational readiness. Third, it offers a framework of pathways and antecedents to leveraging knowledge in multi-sector UICs, emphasizing the interplay of structures, social capital, and industrial engagement. These insights provide practical implications for industrial organizations, UIC managers, and policymakers aiming to foster impactful, inclusive, and sustainable collaborations.

I en tid präglad av accelererande teknologisk komplexitet och samhällelig omvandling har tvärsektoriella universitet och industrisamarbete (på engelska - University-Industry Collaboration “UIC”) blivit centrala arenor för samskapande och kunskapsutbyte över institutionella och industriella gränser. Samtidigt har industriaktörer ofta svårt att till fullo ta tillvara potentialen i dessa samarbeten, särskilt när det gäller att effektivt dela, identifiera och tillämpa kunskap mellan olika aktörer från skilda branscher. Mycket av den existerande forskningen har ett akademiskt perspektiv på UIC, där universitetet ofta framställs som den primära kunskapskällan. Ett sådant perspektiv tenderar att förbise industrins roll, särskilt potentialen i branschöverskridande kunskapsdelning samt erfarenheterna hos företag med begränsad erfarenhet av UIC. Tidigare forskning har också i stor utsträckning fokuserat på tvåpartsrelationer mellan universitet och industri och på kortsiktiga projektresultat, medan strukturell, organisatorisk och social dynamik som möjliggör branschöverskridande kunskapsutbyte samt vidare kunskapsspridning inom företag och till det övergripande kunskapsekosystemet har fått för lite uppmärksamhet i forskningen.

Denna avhandling adresserar dessa kunskapsluckor genom att undersöka hur samarbetsstrukturer på samverkansnivå och åtgärder på företagsnivå påverkar kunskapsdelning och kunskapsanvändning inom och bortom tvärsektoriella UIC. Avhandlingen bygger på en sammanställning av fem empiriska forskningsartiklar, vilka grundar sig på fallstudier av tvärsektoriella UIC-initiativ i Sverige och Danmark med deltagande aktörer från olika branscher, akademiska aktörer och intermediärer. Datainsamlingen har huvudsakligen skett genom intervjuer och observationer. Analysen omfattar samarbetsstrukturer och -praktiker, gränsöverskridande roller, industriellt engagemang samt åtgärder för intern kunskapsspridning.

Avhandlingen bidrar med tre huvudsakliga insikter. För det första identifieras formella och informella strukturer på samverkansnivå som möjliggör branschöverskridande kunskapsdelning och formandet av kunskapsekosystem. För det andra lyfts åtgärder på industrinivå som möjliggör djup kunskapsintegration inom industriella organisationer, med fokus på erfarenhet, engagemang och organisatorisk beredskap. För det tredje presenteras ett ramverk av vägar och förutsättningar för att tillvarata kunskap i tvärsektoriella UIC, där samspelet mellan strukturer, socialt kapital och industriellt engagemang lyfts fram. Dessa insikter ger praktiska implikationer för industriella organisationer, UIC-ansvariga och beslutsfattare som vill främja effektfulla, inkluderande och hållbara samarbetsformer.  

This study investigates the role of University–Industry Collaboration (UIC) in enabling cross-industry knowledge sharing, focusing on the implications of structural social capital within these collaborations. Through a multiple case study involving three distinct UIC structures, we explore how the nature of these collaborations, whether research-focused or networking-focused, influences cross-industry knowledge sharing. Our findings reveal that research-focused UIC, characterized by formal and structured interactions, primarily leverages cognitive social capital to abstract and disseminate knowledge across industries. Conversely, networking-focused UIC, which operates through informal and less-structured channels, relies mainly on relational social capital to foster direct, trust-based knowledge sharing between industries. We identify key enablers and distinctions in these UIC structures, illustrating how they shape cross-industry knowledge sharing. Specifically, we propose a conceptual model, highlighting the mediating role of social capital dimensions and the moderating effects of interest and funding. This model offers new insights into the relationship between structural social capital and cross-industry knowledge sharing in UIC. From a managerial perspective, our study suggests that whether firms engaged in UIC can leverage UIC structures for cross-industry knowledge sharing largely comes down to their own strategical development and management of social capital. From a policy perspective, our study suggests that augmenting already existing policy toward cross-regional knowledge sharing by considering aspects of networking-focused UIC and cross-industrial knowledge sharing, could leverage gains from UIC.

Industrial PhD students, affiliating to industrial firms and academic institutions, hold unique boundary-spanning positions as they engage in knowledge co-creation through university–industry collaboration (UIC). Despite much research on knowledge transfer processes and boundary spanners in inter-organizational contexts, firms who engage in UIC remain uncertain about how to reap the benefits of co-creating knowledge through industrial PhD projects. This paper investigates the enablers of knowledge dissemination for PhD students in industrial firms. Based on a qualitative case study in Sweden, our study identifies enablers and mechanisms related to individual and organizational actions in the internal knowledge dissemination process. Based on the findings, the paper presents a model that distinguishes between surface and deep knowledge dissemination and elaborates on the symbiotic nature of enablers, with middle management mediating between the individual and organizational levels. The paper enhances research on knowledge dissemination in UIC by specifically addressing industrial PhD students' dissemination of co-created knowledge. The findings inform organizations in managing their expectations, making more informed decisions and improving dissemination conditions for boundary-spanning industrial PhD students in UIC.

University-Industry Collaboration (UIC) has emerged as a platform for synergistic value creation, combining the complementary resources of academia and industry. Funding programs such as the EU Horizon 2020, the US NSF-IUCRC program and VINNOVA’s Strategic Innovation program all have the explicit purpose to incentivize collaborations between academia and industry.

In the modern business environment, University-Industry Collaboration (UIC) has emerged as a dynamic mechanism for knowledge co-creation and a way for firms to reach and sustain a competitive advantage. Collaborative university-industry (CUI) PhD projects offer a way to translate academic research into practical industry applications. Prior research emphasises the importance of prior UIC experience for firms to achieve successful knowledge related outcomes in UIC. This study explores how firms with limited UIC experience can effectively navigate the challenges and harness the benefits of such collaborations. In the context of Manufacturing Academy of Denmark (MADE) program, we investigate CUI PhD projects as pathways for fostering learning environments and generating valuable knowledge outcomes. Examining multiple cases, we identify themes that could help less experienced firms to navigate their success in UIC. Our findings underscore that careful project planning and design, strategic use of intermediaries, and fostering a firm-wide attitude of commitment play pivotal roles in enabling successful collaborations. This paper offers actionable insights that bridge the experience gap, providing practical guidance for firms aiming to unlock the full potential of UIC collaborations. By strategically embracing these approaches, less experienced firms can effectively navigate the intricacies of collaborative projects, enhancing their ability to thrive in the dynamic intersection of academia and industry. 

Cross-industry knowledge sharing is a dynamic phenomenon that can thrive at the intersection of academia and industry. Through a qualitative case study of research-centric and network-focused university-industry collaboration (UIC), this study delves into the intricate interplay of structural social capital within UIC and its role in enabling cross-industry knowledge sharing. Data collection was done through interviews and observations over a period of 24 months. Our findings underscore the multifaceted nature of cross-industry knowledge sharing, revealing that it is influenced by the specific focus of UIC structures. In UIC with a research-centric orientation, formal and structured coordination activities prevail. Here, academia leads the way, cultivating shared norms based on academic logic. Cognitive social capital, built through knowledge abstraction, is coopted to facilitate cross-industry knowledge sharing. These collaborations are driven by the imperative for publishable results and align with academia's research agenda. Conversely, UICs emphasizing networking and relationships foster informal structural social capital. Academic involvement is less pronounced, and knowledge sharing occurs through unstructured, informal interactions. Cross-industry knowledge sharing in these settings is more context-specific, potentially requiring less effort for application but following a less structured knowledge transfer process. Research-oriented UIC face challenges regarding long-term relationships due to the finite nature of public funding, while networking-focused UIC grapple with academic disengagement tied to research funding. Nonetheless, they find innovative ways to endure, such as realizing the importance to engage industrial representatives. This study advances our understanding of cross-industry knowledge sharing by elucidating how the structural social capital within UICs shapes the dynamics of knowledge transfer. It highlights the importance of considering the orientation and focus of UICs when harnessing their potential for cross-industry knowledge sharing, offering valuable insights for policymakers and strategists in the public-private interface.