An effective collaboration model between industry and university based on the theory of self organization: A system dynamics model

Purpose - This study aims to investigate the relationship between university and industry as two major infrastructures of national innovation system in all leading scientific and industrial settings. Design/methodology/approach - Large complex organizations with high technology that follow non-linear dynamic rules need to define concepts and adopt new approaches to achieve organizational efficiency and effectiveness. Among various models, a dynamic model of innovation was developed based on a joint investment between industry and university. Hence, the concepts of systems thinking and system dynamics were used. Findings - The results reveal three levels of industry and university communication from the lower levels to the higher levels. Originality/value - The value of this paper lies in adding two axes of "type of relationship" and "form of relationship" to the axis of "strength of relationship", and a static three-dimensional space as a spatial capacity of the relationship between the industry and the university has been organized. Further, this is the first study that investigates the dynamic relationship between industry and university based on the self-organization theory and system thinking.