Abstract
Today, the conventional view of the university is not just that of an independent research and educational institution but also as a direct source of new business ventures and innovation (e.g., Meyer, 2003; Rider, 2009). Although universities have historically been expected to contribute to society in various ways (Widmalm, 2008), the contemporary role of the university is to have a more or less direct impact on economic growth by providing ‘productified’ research results ready to become embedded in a business setting (Ingemansson, 2010). The role of creating an indirect economic impact, by producing new knowledge and educated people that eventually create benefits for society, is now widely regarded as outdated and a more ‘networked’ view of how universities are supposed to contribute is taking over. This point of view is illustrated by the following quotation from the Lisbon Strategy, which was created as a guide for the European Union (EU) to develop into a ‘knowledge-based economy’: ‘In the past, universities would develop new knowledge and, when it was mature, it might be picked up by business for commercial application. Far too much knowledge remains locked up in universities and the development of new knowledge takes too little account of the needs of business. This innovation model is out of date. Today, innovation is built around knowledge networks which, by sharing, developing and accumulating knowledge, facilitate a rapid development of products and services out of new ideas.’ (EU Communication from the Commission to the European Council, 2006, pp. 4–5)
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Notes
- 1.
This means that the material is organised in a particular structure (compared to an amorf material which is organised in a random structure).
- 2.
NICE is a cross-border organisation under the Nordic Council of Ministers for the promotion of economic growth and competitiveness in the Nordic countries. For further information: www.nordicinnovation.org.
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Havenvid, M.I. (2017). 6 Starting Up from Science: The Case of a University-Organised Commercialisation Project. In: Aaboen, L., La Rocca, A., Lind, F., Perna, A., Shih, T. (eds) Starting Up in Business Networks. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/978-1-137-52719-6_7
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