A Pilot PLS-SEM Study on Trust and Knowledge Management for Innovation Performance in University-Industry Collaborations

Abstract

This study developed and validated a comprehensive scale to assess the influence of trust and knowledge management on innovation performance within university-industry collaborations (UIC). Data collected from 100 industry professionals were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), incorporating Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) to evaluate the scale’s psychometric robustness. The instrument exhibited high reliability, with composite reliability (CR) values exceeding 0.7 and all factor loadings surpassing 0.5. Convergent validity was confirmed through Average Variance Extracted (AVE), while discriminant validity was also established, affirming the conceptual distinctiveness of the constructs. These findings offer strong empirical evidence for the scale’s validity and reliability, presenting a rigorous tool for future investigations into the interplay of trust, knowledge management, and innovation in UIC contexts.