This study examines the micro-foundations of university-industry collaborations (UICs) through the lens of industrial PhD supervisors in France’s CIFRE program. Using a mixed-methods approach, we analyze a unique dataset of 6,202 supervisor profiles complemented by 23 semi-structured interviews. Findings show that supervisors’ academic exposure shapes their engagement strategies and value appropriation. Three distinct approaches to leveraging the CIFRE program emerge: individual-driven engagement, community of practice-driven engagement, and routine integration within R&D. Each group extracts different forms of value from CIFRE collaborations. While PhD holders are more likely to engage in R&D-driven CIFREs, both PhD and non-PhD supervisors are present across all categories. Supervisors’ prior exposure to academia shapes their strategic approaches within each group, influencing how they appropriate value from CIFRE collaborations. This study contributes to the literature on absorptive capacity and university-industry collaborations. It provides insights for firms aiming to integrate academic research into their innovation strategies.
