This paper aims to examine the features of the demand for external knowledge from the companies (according to their innovative regimes) and focus on the particular role of their relationships with academic research in their innovative strategies. The findings from the research visits to British and French establishments developing optoelectronic components, highlight two types of industrial research: self-funded short-term R&D on the one hand and external-funded medium or long-term RD on the other. To short-term R&D in companies, universities contribute their technical expertises; to long-term R&D, the resources of PhD students. Furthermore, it seems that the research collaboration with universities has no direct effect on the organisation of the innovative activities in the firms.