Abstract
This paper aims to examine the evolution, types and key success factors (KSFs) of Taiwan’s Industrial R&D alliance in different stages and patterns from the perspective of reverse industrial innovation cycle. Using Taiwan’s R&D alliances from 1990 to 2012, the paper classifies R&D alliances into 6 types and analyzes the key success factors for each type of alliance. The results reveal that dominant type of Taiwan’s R&D alliances move from “product development alliance” to “technology development alliance”, and to “knowledge sharing alliance” over time. Besides, the common KSFs for managing R&D alliance and specific KSFs for each alliance are identified. The paper concludes that the types and governance of Taiwan’s R&D alliance are critical to fit in with the perspective of reverse industrial innovation cycle