Company case studies were once central to R&D management research but have become increasingly marginal. This special issue seeks to restore their importance by publishing rigorous, in-depth case studies that capture how organizations manage their R&D functions and provide insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers.
The decline stems from publication pressures favoring quantitative work, diminished academic engagement with practitioners, and companies' limited willingness to participate in research. Yet case studies remain essential for understanding the complex, context-specific mechanisms shaping R&D processes that quantitative metrics alone cannot capture.
Submissions should present single or multiple company case studies grounded in rigorous qualitative methodology. Co-authored contributions from academics and practitioners are encouraged. Case studies should demonstrate depth of primary source access, advance existing theory or identify new research directions, and address topics including R&D strategy, organization, product development, and collaborations.