Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Running with the pack? The role of Universities of applied science in a German research network

Mit den Wölfen heulen? Die Rolle von Fachhochschulen im deutschen Forschungsnetzwerk

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Review of Regional Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A major role within regional innovation systems is played by the higher education institutions. These institutions create, gather, store and transfer knowledge, which is needed for innovative activities. Regarding the transfer of knowledge the mechanism of cooperative research is one of particular importance for exchanging knowledge between companies and higher education institutions. The cooperative activity of different companies and institutions in Germany leads to a growing research network with intra- and interregional patterns. The purpose of this paper is to unveil the evolution of the German research network over more than a decade and depict changes in the position of Universities and Universities of Applied Science. The increase in public funding of research conducted by Universities of Applied Science since the year 2005 offers risks and chances. Chances are that Universities of Applied Science fill the gap between research and application, connecting the resource intensive research at public research institutes and Universities with the needs of companies. Risks are, that Universities of Applied Science position themselves as substitutes within the German research network, running with the pack and not using their distinctive features strengthening their strengths.

Offering a dynamic view at the network, data from the ‘Förderkatalog’ of the German Ministry of Education and Research from 1999 to 2013 is used. The results show that even though Universities of Applied Science seem to be less involved in the German research network, their activity increases since the increase of public funding for research activities conducted by Universities of Applied Science. But it looks like Universities of Applied Science and Universities are more often in similar than in complementary positions within the network.

Zusammenfassung

Hochschulen nehmen in regionalen Innovationssystemen eine wichtige Rolle ein. Sie sammeln, archivieren und schaffen neues Wissen, welches für einen andauernden Innovationsprozess unabdingbar ist. Insbesondere der Wissenstransfer über kooperative Forschung zwischen Hochschulen und Unternehmen, der Wissenschaft und der Wirtschaft, stellt einen wichtigen Faktor zur produktiven Anwendung neuer Forschungsergebnisse dar. Die kooperative Zusammenarbeit von Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft führt zu einem Netzwerk aus Akteuren innerhalb der deutschen Forschungslandschaft. In dem Artikel werden die Entwicklung des Forschungsnetzwerkes für über eine Dekade dargestellt und dynamische Veränderungen innerhalb des Zeitraumes aufgezeigt. Im Zentrum steht dabei die Frage, wie sich unterschiedliche Hochschultypen (Universitäten und Fachhochschulen) über die Zeit innerhalb des Netzwerkes positioniert haben, insbesondere, ob diese im Netzwerk komplementäre Positionen einnehmen oder die Angleichung der beiden Hochschularten auch zu ähnlichen, austauschbaren Rollen im Netzwerk führen.

Die Netzwerkanalyse fußt auf Daten des Förderkataloges des Bundesministeriums für Bildung und Forschung für die Jahre 1999 bis 2013. Die Ergebnisse zeigen die generell erwartete, eher geringe Einbindung von Akteuren aus Fachhochschulen innerhalb des Forschungsnetzwerkes. Insbesondere zeigen Akteure der Universitäten im Unterschied zu Fachhochschulen eine erhöhte Kooperationsaktivität untereinander. Kooperationen zwischen den Akteuren der Fachhochschulen dagegen sind nur äußerst selten beobachtbar. Nichtsdestoweniger nimmt die Anzahl aktiver Teilnehmer aus den Reihen der Fachhochschulen im Netzwerk seit der verstärkten Förderung angewandter Forschung durch Fachhochschulen deutlich zu. Anstelle einer komplementären Funktion im Netzwerk scheinen Fachhochschulen und Universitäten jedoch eher ähnliche Positionen einzunehmen.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Notes

  1. The technological fields captured by the data are manifold. Therefore, by stressing the differences of the different technological fields, a technological or sectoral innovation system approach would be possible also (see for example Broekel and Hartog 2013).

  2. Albeit its importance has been partially relativized by the inclusion of more kinds of proximity, like cognitive, organizational, social and institutional proximity (see Boschma 2005).

  3. A major drawback is the missing information on the size of the firms. A differentiation of firms regarding their size in combination with the data about collaboration with Universities or Universities of Applied Science could surely enrich the analysis of the cooperative links.

  4. http://www.bmbf.de/de/2762.php (19.02.2013).

  5. Also included are a few already planned projects starting in 2014 and 2015.

  6. A further step towards public funding of application oriented research conducted by Universities of Applied Sciences can be shown by the agreement between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Federal States in November 2008, about the joint funding of applied research and development activities at Universities of Applied Science between 2008 and 2013 (BMBF 2008).

  7. The article does not aim for analyzing the impact of the different positions on innovative performance. For this question see Mckelvey and Rake (2012) or Powell et al. (1999). This exploratory analysis seeks to identify differences between the structural positions of different HEI types, which are generally subsumed in the literature.

  8. In a star-like-structured network a node (A) has direct contacts to all other nodes (B, …, N). The other nodes (B, …, N) are not connected with each other, but only have linkages to the one central vertex (A).

  9. There is no systematic difference regarding the time length of projects with respect to the different HEIs.

  10. The differences of the values for the two types of HEIs are compared by using a nonparametric Mann-Whitney-U two-sample rank-sum test, because the normality assumption seems too rigid to conduct a standard t-test.

  11. Particularly companies, as linkages with research institutes as Fraunhofer, Max-Planck, Helmholtz and Leibniz has been counted separately. But actors like e.g. the urban administration agencies are still included.

References

  • Abbasi A, Hossain L, Leydesdorff L (2012) Betweenness centrality as a driver of preferential attachment in the evolution of research collaboration networks. J Informetrics 6:403–412. doi:10.1016/j.joi.2012.01.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Agrawal A, Cockburn I (2003) The anchor tenenat hypothesis: exploring the role of large, local, R & D-intensive firms in regional innovation systems. Int J Ind Organ 21:1227–1253. doi:10.1016/S0167-7187(03)00081-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anselin L, Varga A, Acs Z (1997) Local geographic spillovers between university research and high technology innovations. J Urb Econ 42:422–448

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Archibugi D (1992) Patenting as an Indicator of technological innovation: a review. Sci Pub Policy 19(6):357–368. doi:10.1093/spp/19.6.357

    Google Scholar 

  • Asheim BT, Isaksen A (2002) Regional innovation systems: the integration of local ‘sticky’ and global ‘ubiquitous’ knowledge. J Technol Transf 27:77–86. doi:10.1023/A:1013100704794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • BMBF (2008) Bekanntmachung der Vereinbarung zwischen Bund und Ländern über die Förderung der angewandten Forschung und Entwicklung an Fachhochschulen nach Artikel 91b des Grundgesetzes. BMBF (ed), Bundesanzeiger, Amtlicher Teil, No. 168, p 3961

  • BMBF (2012) Fachhochschulen auf Erfolgskurs. Pressemitteilung 107/2012, 29. Aug. 2012. http://www.bmbf.de/pubRD/Pm_0829-107.pdf. Accessed 20 Nov 2013

  • Boschma R (2005) Proximity and innovation: a critical assessment. Reg Stud 39(1):61–74. doi:10.1080/0034340052000320887

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bramwell A, Wolfe DA (2008) Universities and regional economic development: the entrepreneurial University of Waterloo. Res Policy 37:1175–1187. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2008.04.016

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Broekel T, Hartog M (2013) Determinants of cross-regional R & D collaboration networks: an application of exponential random graph models. Working Papers on Innovation and Space, 04.13

  • Broström A (2010) Working with distant researchers—distance and content in university-industry interaction. Res Policy 39:1311–1320. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2010.09.002

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caniels MCJ, Van den Bosch H (2011) The role of higher education institutions in building regional innovation systems. Pap Reg Sci 9(2):271–286. doi:10.1111/j.1435-5957.2010.00344.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carlsson B, Jacobsson S, Holmen M, Rickne A (2002): Innovation systems: analytical and methodological issues. Res Policy 31:233–245. doi:10.1016/s0048-7333(01)00138-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carroll MC, Smith BW (2006) Estimating the economic impact of universities: the case of Bowling Green State University. Industrial Geographer 3(2):1–2

  • Charles D (2006) Universities as key knowledge infrastructures in regional innovation systems. Innovation 19(1):117–130. doi:10.1080/13511610600608013

    Google Scholar 

  • Cohen WM, Levinthal DA (1990) Absorptive capacity: a new perspective on learning and innovation. Adm Sci Q (385):128–152. doi:10.2307/2393553

  • Cooke P, Uranga MG, Etxebarria G (1997) Regional innovation systems: institutional and organizational dimensions. Res Policy 26:475–491. doi:10.1016/S0048-7333(97)00025-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cooke P, De Laurentis C, Tödtling F, Trippl M (2007) Regional knowledge economies—markets, clusters and innovation. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Cowen R, Zinovyeva N (2013) University effects on regional innovation. Res Policy 42:788–800. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2012.10.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chatterton P, Goddard J (2000) The response of higher education institutions to regional needs. Eur J Educ 35(4):475–496. doi:10.1111/1467-3435.00041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cristopherson S, Clark J (2010) Limits to ‘The Learning Region’: what university-centered economic development can (and cannot) do to create knowledge-based regional economies. Local Econ 25(2):120–130. doi:10.1080/02690941003741127

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Nooy W, Mrvar A, Batagelj V (2011) Exploratory social network analysis with pajek, 2nd edn. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Doloreux D (2003) Regional innovation systems in the periphery: the case of the Beauce in Quebec (Canada). Int J Innov Mgt 7(1):67–94. doi:10.1142/S1363919603000738

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drucker J, Goldstein H (2007) Assessing the regional economic development impacts of universities: a review of current approaches. Int Reg Sci Rev 30(1):20–46. doi:10.1177/0160017606296731

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ernst P, Gros L (2006) Forschung an Fachhochschulen—Brücken zwischen Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft. BMBF, Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • Fischer MM (2001) Innovation, knowledge creation and systems of innovation. Ann Reg Sci 35:199–216

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Florida R (2002) The rise of the creative class …and how it’s transforming work, leisure, community and everyday life. Basic Books 2002, New York

  • Freel MS (2003) Sectoral patterns of small firm innovation, networking and proximity. Res Policy 32:751–770. doi:10.1016/S0048-7333(02)00084-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freeman LC (1978/1979) Centrality in social networks conceptual clarification. Soc Netw 1:215–239. doi:10.1016/0378-8733(78)90021-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritsch M, Schwirten C (1999) Enterprise-University Co-operation and the Role of Public Research Institutions in Regional Innovation Systems. Ind Innov 6(1):69–83. doi: 10.1080/1366271900000005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritsch M, Slavtchev V (2011) Determinants of the efficiency of regional innovation systems. Reg Stud 45(7):905–918. doi:10.1080/00343400802251494

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fritsch M, Henning T, Slavtchev V, Steigenberger N (2007) Hochschulen, Innovation, Region—Wissenstransfer im räumlichen Kontext. Edition-sigma, Düsseldorf

  • Gilsing V, Nooteboom B, Vanhaverbeke W, Duysters G, van den Oord A (2008) Network embeddedness and the exploration of novel technologies: technological distance, betweenness centrality and density. Res Policy 37:1717–1731. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2008.08.010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Granovetter MS (1973) The strength of weak ties. Am J Sociol 78(6):1360–1380. doi:10.1086/225469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greif S, Schmiedl D, Niedermeyer D (2006) Patentatlas Deutschland, Regionaldaten der Erfindungstätigkeit. Deutsches Patent- und Markenamt, Munich

  • Guan J, Zhao Q (2013) The impact of university-industry collaboration networks on innovation in nanobiopharmaceuticals. Technol Forecast Soc Change 80:1271–1286. doi:10.1016/j.techfore.2012.11.013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagemann H, Christ JP, Erber G, Rukwid R (2011) Die Bedeutung von Innovationsclustern, sektoralen und regionalen Innovationssystemen zur Stärkung der globalen Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der baden-württembergischen Wirtschaft, Projekt-Endbericht. Stuttgart-Hohenheim 2011. https://economics.uni-hohenheim.de/fileadmin/einrichtungen/economics/Innovationscluster_BW/FZID_Hohenheim_Endbericht_Innovationscluster_Juli2011.pdf. Accessed 12 Nov 2013

  • Hamm R, Jäger A, Karl H, Kopper J, Strotebeck F, Warnecke C (2012) RegTrans—Zwischenbericht I, Regionale Transfereffekte verschiedener Hochschultypen—Analyse und Strategien für eine verbesserte Potentialausschöpfung, Projektbericht. http://www.hs-niederrhein.de/fileadmin/dateien/institute/niers/pdf/REGTRANS_Zwischenbericht_2012.pdf. Accessed 12 Nov 2013

  • Inkinen T, Suorsa K (2010) Intermediaries in regional innovation systems: high-technology enterprise survey from Northern Finland. Eur Plan Stud 18:169–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Isaksen A (2001) Building regional innovation systems: is endogenous industrial development possible in the global economy? Can J Regional Sci XXIV(1):101–120

  • Jackson MO (2008) Social and Economic Networks. Princeton University , Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • Jansen D (2006) Einführung in die Netzwerkanalyse, 3rd edn. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauffeld-Monz M, Fritsch M (2013) Who are knowledge brokers in regional systems of innovation? A multi-actor network analysis. Reg Stud 47(5):669–685. doi:10.1080/00343401003713365

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kitagawa F (2004) Universities and regional advantage: higher education and innovation policies in english regions. Eur Plan Stud 12(6):835–852. doi:10.1080/0965431042000251882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knappe S (2006) Die Regionalwirksamkeit der Wissenschaftseinrichtungen in Potsdam, Praxis Kultur- und Sozialgeographie, PKS 4. Universitätsverlag Potsdam, Potsdam

    Google Scholar 

  • Kondo M (1995) Dynamic analyses on the relation between R & D and patent application in Japan. J Sci Policy Res Manag 1(3–4):587–600

    Google Scholar 

  • Koschatzky K, Schnabl E, Zenker A, Stahlecker T, Kroll H (2014) The role of associations in regional innovation systems. Fraunhofer ISI (ed), Working Papers Firms and Region, No. R4/2014

  • Kroll H, Schricke E, Stahlecker T (2012) Developing new roles for higher education institutions in structurally-fragmented regional innovation systems. Fraunhofer ISI (ed), Working Papers Firms and Region, No. R2/2012

  • Lundvall BA, Johnson B, Andersen ES, Dalum B (2002) National systems of production, innovation and competence building. Res Policy 31:213–231. doi:10.1016/S0048-7333(01)00137-8

  • Major E, Cordey-Hayes M (2003) Encouraging innovation in small firms through externally generated knowledge. In: Shavinina LV (ed) The international handbook on innovation. Elsevier Science Ltd., Oxford, pp 667–679

  • Malerba F (2002) Sectoral systems of innovation and production. Res Policy 31:247–264

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansfield E, Lee J-Y (1996) The modern university: contributor to industrial innovation and recipient of industrial R & D support. Res Policy 25:1047–1058

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Markard J, Truffer B (2008) Actor-oriented analysis of innovation systems: exploring micro-meso level linkages in the case of stationary fuel cells. Technol Anal Strategic Manag 20(4):443–464. doi:10.1080/09537320802141429

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKelvy M, Rake B (2012) Research network position and innovative performance: Evidence from the pharmaceutical industry. Jena Economic Research Papers, No. 2012,021

  • Meyer-Krahmer F, Schmoch U (1998) Science-based technologies: university-industry interactions in four fields. Res Policy 27(8):835–851. doi:10.1016/S0048-7333(98)00094-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ostergaard CR (2009) Knowledge flows through social networks in a cluster: Comparing university and industry links. Struct Change Econ Dynam 20:196–210. doi:10.1016/j.strueco.2008.10.003

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perkmann M, Walsh K (2007) University-industry relationships and open innovation: towards a research agenda. Int J Manag Rev 9(4):259–280. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2370.2007.00225.x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell W, Koput K, Smith-Doerr L, Owen-Smith J (1999) Network position and firm performance: organizational returns to collaboration in the biotechnology industry. In: Andrews S, Knoke D (eds) Research in the sociology of organizations. JAI Press, Greenwich, pp 129–159

  • Prodan I (2005) Influence of research and development expenditures on number of patent applications: selected case studies in OECD Countries and central Europe 1981–2001. Appl Econom Int Dev 5–4:5–22

    Google Scholar 

  • Rallet A, Torre A (1999) Is geographical proximity necessary in the innovation networks in the era of global economy? GeoJ 49:373–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld MTW, Franz P, Roth D (2004) Was bringt die Wissenschaft für die Wirtschaft in einer Region? Regionale Innovations-, Wachstums- und Einkommenseffekte von öffentlichen Hochschulen und Forschungseinrichtungen am Beispiel der Region Halle. Schriften des Instituts für Wirtschaftsforschung Halle 18, Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, Baden-Baden

  • Scott J (1994) Social network analysis: a handbook. Sage, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Shou Y, Intarakumnerd P (2013) The roles of intermediaries in sectoral innovation systems and clusters in China and Thailand: an overview. Asian J Technol Innov 21(2):1–6. doi:10.1080/19761597.2013.819241

  • Steiner M, Ploder M (2007) Structure and strategy within Heterogeneity: multiple dimensions of regional networking. Reg Stud 42(6):793–815. doi:10.1080/00343400701861310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sternberg R, Litzenberger T (2004) Regional clusters in Germany—their geography and their relevance for entrepreneurial activites. Eur Plan Stud 12(6):767–791. doi:10.1080/0965431042000251855

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stoetzer MW, Krähmer C (2007) Regionale Nachfrageeffekte der Hochschulen—Methodische Probleme und Ergebnisse empirischer Untersuchungen für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland. Jenaer Beiträge zur Wirtschaftsforschung 6

  • Trappmann M, Hummel HJ, Sodeur W (2005) Strukturanalyse sozialer Netzwerke. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Uyarra E (2008) The impact of universities on regional innovation: a critique and policy implications, Manchester Business School Working Paper 564. http://www.mbs.ac.uk/research/workingpapers. Accessed 12 Nov 2013

  • Wasserman S, Faust K (1994) Social network analysis—methods and applications. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wolfe DA, Davis CH, Lucas M (2005) Global Networks and Local Linkages. In: Wolfe DA, Lucas M (eds) Global networks and local linkages—the paradox of cluster development in an open economy. School of Policy Studies 2005, Mcgill Queens University Press, Montreal, pp 1–25

  • Wright M, Clarysse B, Lockett A, Knockaert M (2008) Mid-range universities’ linkages with industry: knowledge types and the role of intermediaries. Res Policy 37:1205–1223. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2008.04.021

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youtie J, Shapira P (2008) Building an innovation hub: a case study of the transformation of university roles in regional and economic development. Res Policy 37(8):1188–1204. doi:10.1016/j.respol.2008.04.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) [grant number 01PW11003B].

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, GC 3/141, 44801, Bochum, Germany

    Falk Strotebeck

  2. Isenbrockstraße 45, 44867, Bochum, Germany

    Falk Strotebeck

Authors
  1. Falk Strotebeck
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Falk Strotebeck.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Strotebeck, F. Running with the pack? The role of Universities of applied science in a German research network. Rev Reg Res 34, 139–156 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-014-0090-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10037-014-0090-4

Keywords

JEL Codes

Search

Navigation