Purpose – This paper studies the role of knowledge integration mechanisms adopted in a wine research project. The paper develops the theoretical literature on the concept of knowledge integration, with particular reference to the adoption of different organizational mechanisms at the inter-organizational level. The main research question is to try to understand what combinations of coordination mechanisms are best suited for promoting knowledge integration within a strategic collaboration between a company and different Academic Departments. Design/methodology/approach – Our study relies on a case study. The project experience selected for case study provides a consistent, differentiated and information rich setting for studying the phenomenon under scrutiny. We adopted three data collection techniques: internal document analysis, observation/site visits and semi structured interviews. Documentary analysis was used to obtain a rich understanding of the organizational structure and to identify peculiar issues related to coordination and control implications on knowledge creation. Observation and site visits at university research laboratories and at corporate headquarters were undertaken to infer on cultural issues, as well as on responsibility and control related issues. Interviewed staff included top managers and academic researchers. Originality/value – The implications of this study are primarily related to a better understanding of choices adopted at the inter-organizational level in terms of knowledge integration processes. The study was able to expand the understanding of project inter-organizational cooperation in two respects. First, it should be noted that only a few studies have adopted the project framework to investigate the inter-organizational coordination mechanisms among University and firms. Secondly, the study has an explorative role of analysis, which can be useful for generating research hypotheses in future works, connecting the features of inter-organizational projects with the development of knowledge integration processes. Practical implications – Our results could be useful for other firms operating in the same sector, but also to the policy maker who want to stimulate this industry. Wine producers are currently affected by a global slowdown of wine consumption and by increased competition, and this has spurred them to intensify their efforts to improve product quality and to enter higher value niches in international markets. So, the wine industry has been involved in a deep process of innovation within which the processes of knowledge integration have taken on a much more significant role. We try to understand how the linkages between universities and firms may have a higher potential to create knowledge.