The changing pattern of industrial scientific research collaboration in Sweden

Fostering closer ties between industry and universities in order to achieve better technology diffusion has become one of the major political issues in Sweden. However, little is known to what extent industries participate in scientific research, what their contribution is to knowledge production. Against the background of the contemporary global changes that are taking place in knowledge production, an attempt is made to capture the changing pattern of industrial scientific research activities in Sweden. Like many other countries Sweden is changing its pattern of conducting research. Private firms are being increasingly integrated into national and international academic networks and collaborate with a variety of players. Cooperation and networking are proving to be ideal forms of scientific production for firms. We show that knowledge production is to a decreasing extent a self-contained activity in Sweden, and that through scientific co-authorships firms, primarily foreign firms, are becoming important players in Swedish industrial scientific research. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.