Determinants of collaboration in European R&D networks: Empirical evidence from a discrete choice model

This paper focuses on inter-organizational R&D collaborations as captured by joint research projects funded within the European Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development (EU-FPs). We identify determinants of collaboration, including actor characteristics, relational and network effects as well as geographical effects by means of a discrete choice model. Using data on EU-FP projects from the EUPRO database and from a representative survey of participants, we produce statistically significant evidence that collaboration choices in EU-FPs are primarily facilitated by prior acquaintance, thematic proximity and geographical proximity. Also, network effects are significantly related to collaboration choice. Moreover, the study shows that the impact of geographical effects increases for more intensive collaboration. The results are promising since a deeper understanding of these collaboration processes is needed for future governance of research policies in the EU.