How effective are interface organizations in the promotion of university-industry links? Evidence from a regional innovation system

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 424-442 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Fernández-Esquinas ◽  
Carmen Merchán-Hernández ◽  
Oihana Valmaseda-Andía
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Regional Innovation System ◽  
Science Parks ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Technology Transfer Offices ◽  
Innovation Dynamics ◽  
University Industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of the interface organizations of a regional innovation system on the dynamics of knowledge transfer between universities and firms. Design/methodology/approach – The Triple Helix approach is used as a heuristic tool. The paper is based on a face-to-face survey to a sample of 800 innovative firms in Andalusia (Spain). The analysis focusses on the effectiveness attributed by the firms to technology transfer offices (TTOs), science parks and the regional innovation agency. Findings – Different organizations have different roles in the relationships that firms maintain with universities in a regional innovation system. Firm’s positive perceptions of TTOs, science parks and the innovation agency in the promotion of knowledge transfer are associated to the kind of relationships maintained with universities. Research limitations/implications – The research focusses on the region of Andalusia. Further studies could consider the applicability of the findings in other regional innovation systems. Practical implications – The paper helps governments and managers of TTOs, science parks and innovation agencies to understand the real use that interface organizations have for the industrial tissue of a regional innovation system. Originality/value – There have been few studies that observe together the value attributed by firms to the several interface organizations in a specific innovation system. The analysis contributes to the debate on the adjustment of the different roles of interface organizations in the promotion of knowledge transfer and innovation dynamics.

Barrieren für den Wissenstransfer zwischen Universitäten und Unternehmen in Schwellenländern

2006 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Björn Mildahn ◽  
Daniel Schiller
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Regional Innovation System ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
System 2 ◽  
Newly Industrialising Countries ◽  
Industrialised Countries ◽  
The University ◽  
University Industry

Barriers for the university-industry knowledge transfer in newly industrialised countries - an empirical analysis of the regional innovation system of Bangkok. This paper presents empirical evidence on university-industry relations (UIR) and knowledge transfer in the regional innovation system of Bangkok and broaches the issue of adapting well-established concepts for the analysis of innovation processes in newly industrialising countries. The potential for UIR is restricted due to 1) a weak and fragmented innovation system, 2) low technological and absorptive capacities in the industrial sector, and 3) slowly improving research capabilities in the scientific sector. Hence the level of UIR in the regional innovation system of Bangkok is mainly limited to occasional and personal modes. It is suggested to strengthen the knowledge transfer capabilities within both actors and to establish effective mechanisms for bridging institutional barriers between academia and industry

scholarly journals Does the Location in a Science and Technology Park Influence University - Industry Relationships?

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 66-82
Author(s):  
Madelon van Oostrom ◽  
José Antonio Pedraza-Rodríguez ◽  
Manuel Fernández-Esquinas
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Science And Technology ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Regional Innovation System ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Science And Technology Parks ◽  
Absorptive Capacities ◽  
University Industry

This article investigates the role of firm location and absorptive capacities in university-industry interactions. It observes firms in Science and Technology Parks (STPs) and other spaces of a regional innovation system. It focuses on the effects that location has in establishing diversified interactions, in comparison with other firm traits usually associated to drawing from universities. It also provides evidence on the importance of certain qualities of space, including closeness to universities and existence of institutions specialized on knowledge transfer services. The empirical basis is a face-to-face survey to 737 firms in the regional innovation system of Andalusia, Spain. Descriptive analysis and regression models have been used in order to detect specific influences on five key dimensions of knowledge transfer. The results show that being located in a STP has an influence only on developing informal contacts and human resources training. In contrast, other characteristics related to the absorptive capacities of the firm have an influence on engaging in R&D collaboration and commercialization. The conclusions and policy implications suggest that both the kind of firms and the interface institutions located in a STP make a difference when promoting knowledge transfer with local universities.

scholarly journals Measuring university–industry collaboration in a regional innovation system

2009 ◽  
Vol 84 (3) ◽  
pp. 649-667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Ramos-Vielba ◽  
Manuel Fernández-Esquinas ◽  
Elena Espinosa-de-los-Monteros
Keyword(s):  
Innovation System ◽  
Regional Innovation System ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Industry Collaboration ◽  
University Industry

Application of IC-models in a combined public-private sector setting for regional innovation in Slovakia

2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 588-606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roswitha Wiedenhofer ◽  
Christian Friedl ◽  
Lubomir Billy ◽  
Daniela Olejarova
Keyword(s):  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Training System ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Methodological Innovation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
E Learning

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to support the competitiveness and knowledge-based economic growth of the Slovak region of Košice and its stakeholders; suitable intellectual capital (IC) methodologies were selected and applied. This approach responds to a weak innovation performance of Slovakia in general and a weak connection of the Slovak labour market and vocational training system. Design/methodology/approach The methodological “backbone” is given by IC reporting (ICR). The two ICR models – the Austrian University model and the German “Alwert” model – were selected and transferred to higher educational institutions (HEI) and companies in Košice. The knowledge transfer was accomplished by implementation of on-site trainings with different groups of stakeholders, supported by e-learning. Several accompanying in-depth interviews with Austrian stakeholders were conducted to derive recommendations for ICR implementation in the Slovak public sector. Findings Beyond knowledge transfer, a shared understanding of the importance of IC management and common “IC language” between different stakeholders of the regional innovation system could be developed. Further, several recommendations for a sound development of an IC governance tool for HEI were elaborated. Practical implications The knowledge transfer and practical implementation of this Slovak case were successful. Requests for follow-up initiatives, invitations for conferences, development of projects including ICR elements prove this valuation. Originality/value A methodological innovation was accomplished by adapting a set of innovation key drivers as structural base for the development of the regional innovation function and interaction of stakeholders.

Evaluation of critical factors for the regional innovation system within the HsinChu science-based park

Kybernetes ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 45 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chung-Lin Tsai ◽  
Han-Chao Chang
Keyword(s):  
Innovation System ◽  
Innovation Systems ◽  
Regional Innovation System ◽  
Regional Innovation Systems ◽  
Regional Innovation ◽  
Industry Cluster ◽  
Operational Effectiveness ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Parent Firm ◽  
Knowledge Infrastructure

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to collate relevant literature on the theoretical background of regional innovation systems and factors that impact the operational effectiveness of regional innovation systems. Design/methodology/approach – The collated information is then used to determine the opinions of experts from industries within science-based parks, and the scholars on the researches of regional innovation systems in Taiwan. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used to evaluate the critical factors of regional innovation systems. Findings – This study finds that industry cluster effects constitute the most significant operating factor for regional innovation systems within the Taiwanese science-based parks. In addition, this study not only confirms that partners or parent firm location which were advocated by Tödtling et al. are also critical to Taiwanese regional innovation systems, but also verifies how well the relationships to partners or parent firm are equally important for expansion the regional innovation systems. Research limitations/implications – The concepts of regional innovation system have been established since 1990, and related articles have been published from European and Asian scholars, however, seldom does literature offer questionnaires or research items to measure the operational effectiveness of a regional innovation system. Therefore this study has developed a questionnaire, by reviewing literature and verifying it by the AHP method, with Taiwan’s HsinChu Science Park as the subject case. For the contribution on theories, this study inducted the construction of new innovation environments, new interactional behavior in regional organization innovation, and injection of new resources into regional innovation as the three main constructs to influence the operational effectiveness of regional innovation systems. In addition, this study has used experts’ questionnaire answers and the AHP method to clarify the priority of factors to operate the regional innovation system. Practical implications – Industry cluster effect, construction of knowledge infrastructure and how close partners or parent firm are (distance and relationship) are the top three factors in HsinChu Science Park. The duties of the government are not merely picking good firms for the regional innovation system, but also making policies and defining regimes, providing a good business environment for campus firms, universities, and research institutions, as well as offering plenty of R & D funding to encourage industry-academia cooperation. Governments must invest in infrastructures, such as: establishing databases, libraries, information networks, the national technical standards for certification, and other public services, to facilitate industry-academia cooperation. Social implications – These research results indicate the operating essentials of regional innovation systems are not limited to interactions among regional organizations. This study suggests that the success or failure of a new regional innovation system would instead, be dependent on the regional environment, as in software planning and support, as well as the relationship of innovation with policy implementation and administration. Originality/value – Results showed that the top-five factors influencing the operational effectiveness of regional innovation systems are the industry cluster effect, the construction of knowledge infrastructure, how close to partner’s or parent’s firm (distance and relationship), import of foreign capital and technology, and the implementation of regional innovation policy.

Knowledge transfer between actors in the innovation system: a study of higher education institutions (HEIS) and SMES

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (3/4) ◽  
pp. 436-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graciela Corral de Zubielqui ◽  
Janice Jones ◽  
Pi-Shen Seet ◽  
Noel Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Knowledge Transfer ◽  
Knowledge Acquisition ◽  
Higher Education Institutions ◽  
Innovation System ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Qualitative Approaches ◽  
University Industry ◽  
Knowledge Access

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand how and why small to medium enterprises (SMEs) access knowledge from external actors in general and from higher education institutions (HEIs) in particular and what is the extent to which these knowledge access pathways affect SME innovativeness. Design/methodology/approach – The paper involved both quantitative and qualitative approaches: a survey of 1,226 SMEs and a mini case study to follow-up on issues arising from the survey analysis. Survey data were analysed using both non-parametric and multivariate Poisson regression analysis. The case study was based on a medium-sized manufacturing firm in South Australia. Findings – While there are significant differences between the micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, the evidence suggests that SMEs generally use “generic” university–industry knowledge transfer pathways (e.g. published research results) rather than university–industry links with high “relational” involvement. More significantly, the results indicate that SMEs are more likely to rely on organisations other than universities and related R&D enterprises for knowledge acquisition like clients/customers or suppliers. While collaboration is most likely to occur within the same state/territory, or Australia, many SMEs also collaborate internationally, usually as part of normal supplier–customer relationships, reinforcing knowledge acquisition from organisationally proximate partners. These findings are also supported by the case study. Research limitations/implications – This research was limited to surveying SMEs in one geographic (metropolitan) region in Australia. It also does not account for the different patterns of HEI–SME interactions in different industry sectors. There is also only one case study. Originality/value – First, the research adds to the few field studies that have investigated accessing knowledge for innovation among SMEs. Specifically, the research contributes to an understanding of the heterogeneous roles that different actors play in facilitating knowledge access for improving innovative SMEs outcomes. Second, the research does not treat all SMEs similarly in terms of size effects but instead accounts for differing SME sizes and how this affects their selection of knowledge access pathways. Third, the research contributes to a small number of studies that attempt to understand how HEIs and SMEs can work better together in the context of a regional innovation system, especially one that is relatively less competitive to the larger economy.

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