Developing measures for higher education researchers' drivers and intentions to collaborate with firms

Abstract
Higher education institutions (HEIs), with their research output and researchers, can make significant contributions to firms. Nevertheless, what drives researchers’ intention to collaborate with firms still requires further exploration. Taking a behavioral approach, this study developed and validated a model and corresponding survey instruments to assess in detail the conditions that influenced the intention of HEIs researchers to collaborate with firms. The results indicated that 1) the proposed model and instrument were valid for measuring researchers’ intention to collaborate with firms, and 2) the correspondence between the hypothesized and observed empirical structures of the drivers and barriers for collaboration was supported. This research adds new insights into the roles and relevance of attitudes (appraisal of favorable or unfavorable outcomes), perceived behavioral control (instrumental-agency concerns), and subjective norms (internal and external actors facilitating or hindering collaboration) according to the HEI, government, and firm environments.