ABSTRACT
This chapter formalizes the simple idea of “bubble planning” in order to develop it as a key tool for designing R&D and economic development consortia. Following definitions and examples of consortia and their purposes, optimization models are set forth for the purposes of selecting consortium members and budgeting the consortium in a way that satisfies all members. A final optimization model addresses the special problems of overhead costs in university-based consortia. The results are especially applicable to cross-sectoral consortia. We remark also on the applicability of these ideas to the situations of open innovation, the sharing economy, and cross-functional teams within a single organization.
