In this monograph, literature on industry-university liaisons is examined to provide a framework for examining such relationships and for evaluating their impact on a variety of social, economic, and educational goals. The combination of academic leaders in search of revenue, industrialists looking for a competitive edge, and state and federal governments attempting to restore economic vitality has resulted in dramatic growth in industry-university liaisons. Questions remain about the impact of partnerships between business and higher education, both for participants and society. Topics of the monograph's eight sections are as follows: (1) the emergence of industry-university liaisons (i.e. historical patterns and the 1980s and the rise of such liaisons); (2) ideological and political agendas (advocates, opponents, and moderates); (3) motivating factors (government, industry, and academe); (4) types of industry-university liaisons (participants, disciplines, and topologies); (5) operational issues (i.e. keys to successful implementation and operation); (6) compatibility with academic functions (evidence, missions, and evolution of the institution); (7) assessing the impact (initial considerations and criteria); and (8) lessons for academic, corporate, and government leaders (i.e. generic lessons and lessons for state and federal governments, industry, and academe). Contains about 250 references. (SM)