This paper explores the topic of the collaboration among research institutes and firms and its recent trends, using as indicators the scientific coauthored publications. The set of observation is represented by Emilia Romagna firms in the life-science biotech sector and the analysis includes the impact of firm's size on the quality and the frequency of collaboration with universities, hospitals and other firms; le geographical extent of collaborations and the structure of the network of collaborations and the relationship between these factors and the quality of the publications. From these empirical observations, some preliminary policy implications at local and regional level can be provided.