Navigating innovation partnerships: challenges and opportunities in startup-corporate collaborations

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5585/2025.26375

Keywords:

relationship, engagement, startups, corporates, entrepreneurship

Abstract

Objective of the study: This study will thoroughly investigate the interaction pathways between startups and corporations in Brazil to identify how their partnerships lead to the creation of innovative technology evaluation models.

Methodology/approach:  The study utilized a qualitative approach that involved conducting 18 exploratory interviews with Brazilian startup founders. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using content analysis based on Bardin’s techniques.

Originality/Relevance: The novelty of this study lies in its unique focus on examining the dynamics between startups and corporations exclusively from the perspective of startups, offering a fresh and insightful lens on the challenges and opportunities inherent in their collaborative relationships.

Main results: The results of the research reveal three non-probabilistic routes of interaction between these entities.

Theoretical/methodological contributions: The study addresses a theoretical gap in understanding the relationships between startups and corporations, particularly in Brazil. While the literature acknowledges the importance of such partnerships for innovation, there needs to be more comprehensive insights into the interaction pathways and the creation of new technology evaluation models resulting from these collaborations.

Social /management contributions: This article's social and managerial significance lies in its influence on the interrelations between these organizations and the adoption of innovative practices through their partnerships, ultimately fostering value creation.

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Author Biographies

Marisangela Bastos Lima Csik, University of São Paulo, School of Business, Economics and Accounting (FEA/SP-USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

PhD candidate in Business Administration at FEA/USP, specializing in the field of Organizational Economics. Holds a Master's degree in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from FEA/USP.

Alvair Silveira Torres Junior, University of São Paulo, School of Business, Economics and Accounting (FEA/SP-USP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil

He holds a degree in Technology in Production Processes from Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (1985), a master's degree in Administration from the Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo (1990) and a doctorate in Organizational Communication from the Methodist University of São Paulo (2000). Professor at the University of São Paulo- FEA-USP. Specialist in Lean Management and Lean Production. Author and Co-author of the Books: Integration and Flexibility, Knowledge Management in SMEs, Small Dictionary of Globalized Company Terms. Winner of the 2001 INTERCOM Award for best doctoral thesis, runner-up in the PricewaterhouseCoopers Management Innovation award in 2002 and award for best work in the area of Operations and Logistics at XIX ENANGRAD in 2008. He has experience in the area of Production Engineering, with an emphasis on Planning, Design and Control of Production Systems, working mainly on the following topics: lean production, technological management, strategy, work organization and decision-making process.

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23.04.2025

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Csik, M. B. L., & Torres Junior, A. S. (2025). Navigating innovation partnerships: challenges and opportunities in startup-corporate collaborations. International Journal of Innovation, 13(1), e26375. https://doi.org/10.5585/2025.26375

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Vol. 13 No. 1 (2025): Jan./Apr.

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