Promotion of co-operative research: a Spanish experience

The aim of this paper is to assess the success of the Spanish technology policy instrument ‘proyectos concertados’ (co-operative projects which receive public financing) in the stimulation of co-operation between firms and public research centres (PRCs). The paper analyses the factors which explain the different impact of this aid in relation to: a) whether or not the public intervention has contributed to getting a project carried out co-operatively which would otherwise have been carried out by the firm alone; b) whether or not the firms which have carried out proyectos concertados intend to continue to co-operate with the participant PRCs. The information used corresponds to the opinion of the firm which undertakes the proyecto concertado.