Strategic Alliance

Definition: a Strategic Alliance is a major long-term partnership and collaborative agreement entered into by 2 or more companies to pursue a set of agreed upon critical goals while remaining (legally) independent firms.
These collaborations can come in many forms and types, including contractual and equity forms.
It is normally a synergistic arrangement whereby the participating firms each bring different strengths and capabilities to the alliance.

More on strategic alliances. More on collaboration: Backward Integration, Forward Integration, Joint Venture, Quasi-Vertical Integration, Vertical Integration, more...