Abstract:

Focusing on the nearly century-long collaborative history between the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), this paper examines Caltech-JPL collaborations in the fields of science, technology, and human resources. The origins of the collaboration can be traced back to a shared aspiration for top talent and a convergence of research interests. However, the partnership encountered challenges due to the distinct research orientations and cultures of the two institutions, leading to periods of instability and deterioration. Eventually, through a process of mutual adaptation and adjustment, a stable and productive collaboration model emerged, serving as an example of an endogenous collaboration model. An endogenous model of collaboration is one that is driven by the internal forces within the organizations resulting from the proximity of the research orientations and cultures of the two institutions, as well as the shared research interests of the researchers of both institutions. Throughout history, the forces driving collaboration have included research autonomy, the public nature of the research field, and the long-term and fundamental nature of the research. The fundamental characteristics of this internally driven model of collaboration are as follows: a harmonious yet distinct research orientation and culture, highly convergent research interests, individual-driven collaborative dynamics, and close yet loose talent connections.

Key words: science and technology collaborations, talents, national laboratories, Caltech