The Use of IP Profiles in Selecting and Structuring R&D Alliances

OVERVIEW:In today’s dynamic technology environment, firms in high-tech industries often enter into R&D alliances to overcome internal resource constraints and complement in-house R&D efforts. While alliances may provide valuable opportunities for synergy effects, many projects fail to meet expectations due to inappropriately selected partners. This paper proposes an analytical framework that can help technology managers select suitable partners, especially when they face significant time pressure with limited information. Our framework also supports the formulation of effective technology strategies based on the evaluation of potential alliance candidates via intellectual property (IP) profiles and patent data.