Exploring the Relation Between Female Representation in Management and University- Industry Collaboration

This paper explores the relation between female representation in management and university-industry collaboration on innovation. University-industry collaboration brings together the expertise of academia with the resources and market focus of industry, with potential benefits for both parties. The composition of management teams can significantly influence organizational culture, decision-making processes, and collaboration strategies. Investigating the relation between female representation in management and collaboration with universities can offer valuable insights into how diversity in management shapes organizational behavior and relationships with external partners. Thus, with this paper we aim at adding to the understanding of the interplay between gender representation, collaboration, and innovation.
The analysis is carried out on a sample of 2,000 Danish innovation- and R&D-active firms. Utilizing logistic regression analyses we examine the relation between the share of females in management and the likelihood of engaging in collaboration with Danish universities for innovation.
The findings reveal an industry-moderated relation between the share of females in management and university collaboration. The strongest relation is observed in industries with a low inclination for university collaboration. This suggests that an increased presence of females in management within these industries could potentially steer organisational culture and collaboration strategies in the direction of more openness towards universities.