Commercially Focused Interdisciplinary Research: A Case Study of the Biopharma Thematic Research Initiative at the University of Auckland

Abstract

Research commercialisation has become an important process for universities to make a social and economic contribution, and by combining ideas, interdisciplinary research is more likely to generate ‘breakthrough’ research with improved commercial potential. Despite increasing overlap between the two concepts, little is known about how they interact. This study explored the intersection of the two concepts by investigating the effect a commercial focus has on interdisciplinary research. Six factors that may positively or negatively affect commercially focused interdisciplinary research were identified in the literature, generating propositions for further development in this study. Due to the nascent stage of the subject area, this study took an exploratory, qualitative approach. The Biopharma Thematic Research Initiative (TRI) at the University of Auckland was used as a case, whereby data collection consisted of 15 interviews with academics involved in drug discovery research, an inherently interdisciplinary and commercially focused field. Where applicable, secondary data was collected to support findings from primary data collection. Findings of this study indicate the relative importance of prior experience, geographic distance, discipline similarity, complementary personalities, and shared drivers with respect to the commercially focused interdisciplinary research process. Further, although research funders are moving towards interdisciplinary and applied research, this study identified challenges funding the initial stages of a project, demonstrating the value of an internal funding system to attract increased external funds. The study also found that academic research outputs and career progression can be significantly stunted in commercially focused interdisciplinary teams, both of which are essential for ongoing researcher engagement. By exploring the intersection of interdisciplinary research and research commercialisation, the study has made an original contribution to the literature. Possibly the most significant finding was a publishing and career advancement inequity between disciplines, which was further exacerbated by the commercial focus. Conclusions from this study can: (1) contribute to the improvement of commercially focused interdisciplinary teams; (2) inform research administrators about factors to consider when setting up such programmes; and (3) inform policy makers who need to consider issues raised in this study to sustain long term academic engagement in this type of research.