Interaction between the Spanish firms and the CSIC: motivations, mechanisms and benefits from the firm's perspective

This paper explores Spanish firms' motivations to interact with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and describes the mechanisms by which both agents are related. Finally, it also explores the type of benefit obtained as a result of this interaction. To this aim, we examine data provided by 787 Spanish companies which took part with the CSIC in innovation activities during the period 1999-2010. The study points out that Spanish firms prefer strategic motivations than tactical ones, and that the major mechanisms underlying such interactions are technological support or consulting and contract research. That is, all of them mechanisms with low level of sophistication. Finally, we observe that the benefit obtained by firms goes beyond innovation, or even economical profit associated with it. Different types of tangible and intangible benefits are described in detail.