Title: Integrating knowledge for environmental innovations in research centres: the key role of industry-based boundary spanners

Authors: Thomas Lauvås; Marianne Steinmo

Addresses: Nord University Business School, Nytorget 5, 8622 Mo i Rana, Norway ' Nord University Business School, Nytorget 5, 8622 Mo i Rana, Norway

Abstract: Although the specialised knowledge of universities is considered a significant contribution to firms' environmental innovations, gaps remain regarding how firms integrate this knowledge. A rising literature stream on boundary spanning and knowledge integration seeks to investigate how firms achieve such integration; however, in-depth studies at the individual level are lacking. To develop this understanding, we conducted a longitudinal study of industry-based boundary spanners and their knowledge integration activities in research centres. We identified a set of underpinning knowledge transferring, translating, and transforming activities that are performed internally in firms and externally towards research centres to create environmental innovations. We also revealed a pattern in how boundary spanners attend to these activities in the establishment, performance, and end stages of research centres, thus providing guidance for theory and practice on how to develop environmental innovations in research centres.

Keywords: inter-organisational collaboration; open innovation; university-industry collaboration; research centre; environmental innovation; boundary spanning; boundary spanner; knowledge management; knowledge integration; knowledge transferring; knowledge translating; knowledge transforming; Norway.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2024.138150

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2024 Vol.18 No.3, pp.293 - 321

Received: 01 Jun 2021
Received in revised form: 09 Mar 2022
Accepted: 05 Jun 2022
Published online: 30 Apr 2024 *