How do dimensions of proximity relate to the outcomes of collaboration? A survey of knowledge-intensive networks in the Dutch water sector
There is a growing body of literature on the importance of proximity for innovation and other knowledge-related outcomes. We examine the impact of geographical, social, organisational, and cognitive proximity for a heterogeneous population, including people from academia, knowledge
institutes, industry, and government. We analyse data on 1020 ego–alter relationships, derived from a survey among water professionals in the Netherlands. The use of survey data allows for more refined indicators of proximity and more diverse collaboration outcomes than those common
in the literature. Social and cognitive proximity have a positive effect for all outcomes examined. Geographical and organisational proximity have a negative effect on hard (tangible) outcomes yet a weak positive (if any) effect on soft (intangible) outcomes. We do not find evidence for the
suggestions in the conceptual literature that proximity follows an inverted U-curve where most outcomes are achieved in relations with some but not too much proximity.
Keywords: D85; O31; O33; collaboration; innovation; knowledge transfer; proximity dimensions; the Netherlands
Document Type: Research Article
Affiliations: 1: Science System Assessment Department, Rathenau Institute, The Hague, The Netherlands 2: KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands 3: Department of Organization Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Publication date: 03 October 2014
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