<p>This research studies the international drivers of university-industry research collaborations, focusing especially on the relative spillovers from innovation and scientific productivity. The quantifying of university-industry collaborations, based on survey data from a large sample of countries, enables the main contribution to the literature. Using data from 137 countries over the years 2013 to 2022, the results show that both innovations and scientific productivity positively influence the incentives to engage in university-industry research collaborations. We further find that the positive effects of innovations and scientific productivity persist over time, and that the research in developed nations has positive spillovers on collaborations worldwide. Another novel finding is that the intensity of local market competition positively influences university-industry research collaborations. Some implications for technology policy are discussed.</p>