The issue of corporate R&D management has became particularly relevant during the last
decade, since many industrial sectors experienced growing complexity in their research areas, and
increasing constraints in budgets devoted to R&D activities. This paper discusses the cases of the ICT
and automotive sectors, by exploring the changes in managerial procedures and strategies adopted by two
of the largest corporate research centres in Italy (Telecom Italia Lab and Centro Ricerche Fiat).
Both cases are characterised by a growing pressure towards the effective integration of short-term and
long-term perspectives, i.e. towards a balance between valorisation of research results and competences,
and exploration of new technological trajectories. The solutions adopted by the two organisations are
explored and discussed. Specifically, while TiLab has mainly focused the re-focussing of its activity on the
promotion of controlled spin-off companies, CRF has been very active in local technology transfer,
especially in favour of SMFs.