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Putting the Region First: Knowledge Transfer at Universities in Greater Manchester

  • Chapter
University Evolution, Entrepreneurial Activity and Regional Competitiveness

Part of the book series: International Studies in Entrepreneurship ((ISEN,volume 32))

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Abstract

Knowledge transfer has become one of the major policy goals of governments across the world and is being encouraged at the national and EU level. While policy makers and academics continue to look for a knowledge transfer model that will work for all universities, some recent analyses have shown that specific local and historic conditions that affect a university’s ability to engage with the region need to be considered. This paper looks at the knowledge transfer activities of the three universities in the Greater Manchester area. All three universities are closely linked to their local environment and can trace their origin to the mid-nineteenth century and the development of Manchester as the “first industrial city”. Differences in research priorities and funding (cuts) have affected their development and left us with three distinct knowledge transfer strategies.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    HE-BCI is an annual survey conducted since 2001, taking into account third stream income, university mission statements and non-commercial activities.

  2. 2.

    The Elementary Education Act of 1870 recommended the establishment of school boards to provide elementary education.

  3. 3.

    The Technical Instruction Act of 1889 allowed local authorities to offer technical or manual education.

  4. 4.

    The Education Act of 1902 allowed local authorities to offer higher education.

  5. 5.

    Previously Salford University Industrial Centre Ltd, renamed in 1986.

  6. 6.

    In 2004 it merged with the University of Manchester’s innovation company.

  7. 7.

    The Further Education Act of 1985 enabled local authorities to supply “goods and services through further education establishments”.

  8. 8.

    Values for 2007 were reported in Table 14.2. The percentage changes in income are calculated adjusting for annual inflation.

  9. 9.

    Values for 2012/2013 show no further recovery. 2013/2014 values were not available at the time of writing.

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Acknowledgments

The author would like to thank Shiri Breznitz, participants of the Technology Transfer Society Conference in Bergamo and an anonymous referee for helpful suggestions and comments. This paper benefits from sponsorship within the Collegio Carlo Alberto Project “Researcher Mobility and Scientific Performance”.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge, Judge Business School, Trumpington Street, Cambridge, CB2 1AG, UK

    Cornelia Lawson

  2. Bureau for Research in Innovation, Complexity and Knowledge, Collegio Carlo Alberto, Moncalieri, 10024, Torino, Italy

    Cornelia Lawson

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  1. Cornelia Lawson
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Correspondence to Cornelia Lawson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

    David Audretsch

  2. Augsburg University, Augsburg, Germany

    Erik Lehmann

  3. Technology Management, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy

    Michele Meoli

  4. University of Bergamo, Bergamo, Italy

    Silvio Vismara

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Lawson, C. (2016). Putting the Region First: Knowledge Transfer at Universities in Greater Manchester. In: Audretsch, D., Lehmann, E., Meoli, M., Vismara, S. (eds) University Evolution, Entrepreneurial Activity and Regional Competitiveness. International Studies in Entrepreneurship, vol 32. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-17713-7_14

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