PARTNERING FOR KNOWLEDGE: A LEARNING FRAMEWORK FOR UNIVERSITY-INDUSTRY COLLABORATION Submitted to Midwest Academy of Management 2004 Annual Meeting

This paper addresses the important strategic issue of successful knowledge transfer in University-Industry strategic alliances. A learning framework for successful University-Industry collaboration is developed and detailed. Building on established research and experience, a learning perspective is introduced that is contingent upon the nature of knowledge. Background on learning, knowledge, strategic alliances and University-Industry collaborations is given. Decisions regarding the approach in the four stages of alliance development are discussed as related to the tacit to explicit continuum of knowledge characteristics. 3 The University-Industry Partnership Dream. Washington University and Monsanto have had a successful win-win partnership for innovation and learning since 1981. Monsanto, with an interest in developing and commercializing pharmaceuticals, partnered with the Washington University Medical school to provide basic research grants for university research. 40 percent of the $2-9 million per year grant partnership has gone to assistant professors, 35 percent t