  This study concerns the market for research collaboration between industry
and universities. It presents an analysis of the population of all Italian
university-industry collaborations that resulted in at least one international
scientific publication between 2001 and 2003. Using spatial and bibliometric
analysis relating to scientific output of university researchers, the study
shows the importance of geographic proximity in companies' choices of
university partner. The analysis also reveals inefficiency in the market: in a
large proportion of cases private companies could have chosen more qualified
research partners in universities located closer to the place of business.
