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Quantifying the Triple Helix relationship in scientific research: statistical analyses on the dividing pattern between developed and developing countries

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Abstract

This study aims to find a global pattern of the Triple Helix (TH) relationship among university, industry, and government sectors in scientific research, placing the discussion in a developmental context. Based on the dataset composed of SCI and SSCI-listed publications from around 130 countries, we investigated the participation share of each sector, the publication share by sector and sectoral combination, and the synergic effect of the TH relationship. Statistical analyses suggest the presence of a dividing pattern of the TH relationship between developed and developing countries: Developed countries had higher participation in the industry sector, more university-centered collaborations with the industry and government sectors, and a higher synergic effect of the TH relationship than developing countries. This tendency was found to occur irrespective of the science or social science field. These findings have implications for developing countries to promote the participation of the industry sector in scientific research and the effort of the government sector to facilitate university and industry linkage.

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Notes

  1. The percentages were calculated by the authors for those countries that we were able to classify into developing and developed categories. For more information about QS rankings, please refer to http://www.topuniversities.com/qs-world-university-rankings.

  2. The research and development expenditure of 2010 had the fewest missing values among the data of recent years. The percentages were calculated by the authors for those countries that we were able to classify into developing and developed categories. Detailed information about research and development investment can be retrieved from http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/GB.XPD.RSDV.GD.ZS.

  3. The average values were estimated by the authors for those countries that we were able to classify into developing and developed countries. The number of patent applications is based on resident count by filing office. More information can be found in http://www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/statistics/patents/.

  4. http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea Grant funded by the Korean Government (NRF-2010-330-B00232, Social Science Korea Program). Many thanks go to Min-Ho So, Seong-Cheol Choi, Ji-Young Kim, Ji-Won Park, Yoon-Cheol Heo, Ji-Young Park.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Communication, Kookmin University, 77 Jeongneung-ro, Seungbuk-gu, Seoul, 136-702, Korea

    Sujin Choi

  2. Department of Systems Biology, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-749, Korea

    Joshua SungWoo Yang

  3. Department of Media and Communication, Yeungnam University, 214-1 Dae-dong, Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, 712-749, South Korea

    Han Woo Park

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  1. Sujin Choi
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Correspondence to Han Woo Park.

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Choi, S., Yang, J.S. & Park, H.W. Quantifying the Triple Helix relationship in scientific research: statistical analyses on the dividing pattern between developed and developing countries. Qual Quant 49, 1381–1396 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11135-014-0052-5

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