University scientific coproduction becomes more social in economic crisis

Abstract Universities coproduce scientific knowledge with a variety of stakeholders, including both industry and hospitals. This study investigates whether the relative share of university copublications with one or the other varies according to economic growth and the global burden of disease. In doing so, we also address a gap in Innovation Studies by providing a focused literature review on why hospitals publish and how university–hospital copublications can serve as a channel for socially impactful research. Our analysis, centred on cancer research from 2004 to 2023, examines nearly 500,000 university copublications and reveals a clear pattern: economic growth is associated with a higher share of joint scientific production with industry, while a greater global burden of cancer corresponds with increased collaboration with hospitals. However, during periods of strong economic growth, the shift toward industry collaboration appears to persist even amid significant disease burdens. Given that university–hospital copublications tend to align more directly with public health objectives, we recommend policies that actively support hospital-linked research during economic expansions, ensuring continued attention to pressing societal challenges.