This study aims to explore the main motive of enterprises for participating in government-sponsored R&D alliances, as well as their performance after joining an R&D alliance. The data comprises 491 projects of R&D alliances with 1688 firms. The study applies multiple regression analysis and fsQCA to test the relationship among the factors determining the formation of R&D alliances and their performance. According to the empirical findings, R&D capacity and government grants are the motive factors of enterprises to participate in R&D alliances, influencing corporate operational performance. In other words, after participating in R&D alliances, enterprises enhance their operational performance.