Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Reframing the Role of Universities in the Development of Regional Innovation Systems

  • Published:
The Journal of Technology Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The role of universities in regional innovation has evolved over the last 20 years. This evolution has seen the emergence of a third role of universities that has re-shaped and transformed their two traditional functions of teaching and research. This paper proposes a conceptual framework for analysing variation in the roles performed by universities in the development of regional innovation systems. This framework is based on the triple helix model of university, industry, government relations, the literature on university engagement and the innovation systems literature, more generally. The framework is applied to a comparative study of three non core-metropolitan universities in Australia. A number of insights and issues are drawn in regard to conceptualising the role of universities in regional systems.

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

References

  • F. Bade E.A. Nerlinger (2000) ArticleTitle‘The Spatial Distribution of New Technology-based Firms: Empirical Results for West-Germany’ Papers in Regional Science 79 155–176 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s101100050041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • S. Bagchi-Sen L. Hall L. Petryshyn (2001) ArticleTitle‘A Study of University–Industry Linkages in the Biotechnology Industry: Perspectives from Canada’ International Journal of Biotechnology 3 IssueID3/4 390–409

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Braczyk P. Cooke M. Heidenreich (Eds) (1998) Regional Innovation Systems: The Role of Governance in a Globalized world UCL Press London

    Google Scholar 

  • Basri, E., 2001, ‘Inter-firm Technological Collaboration in Australia in an International Context: Implications for Innovation Performance and Public Policy,‘ in O.f.E.C.a.D. OECD, Innovative Networks: Co-operation in National Innovation Systems, Paris, pp. 143–168

  • R. Camagni (Eds) (1991) Innovation Networks: Spatial Perspectives Belhaven London

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Castells P. Hall (1994) Technopolis of the World - The Making of Twenty-First Century Industrial Complexes Routledge London

    Google Scholar 

  • P. Chatterton J. Goddard (2000) ArticleTitle‘The Response of Higher Education Institutions to Regional Needs’ European Journal of Education 35 IssueID4 475–496 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-3435.00041

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Cooke (1992) ArticleTitle‘Regional Innovation Systems: Competitive Regulation in the New Europe’ Geoforum 23 365–382 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-7185(92)90048-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Cooke (2002a) ArticleTitle‘Biotechnology Clusters as Regional, Sectoral Innovation Systems’ International Regional Science Review 25 IssueID1 8–37 Occurrence Handle10.1177/016001702762039367

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Cooke K. Morgan (1998) The Associational Economy: Firms, Regions and Innovation Oxford University Press Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameDISR (2001) Structural Change in Australian Industry DISR Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameDISR (2002) Australia as a Modern Economy DISR Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Edquist (Eds) (1997a) Systems of Innovation: Technologies, Institutions and Organizations Pinter London

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Edquist (1997b) Systems of Innovation Approaches – Their Emergence and Characteristic C. Edquist (Eds) Systems of Innovation: Technologies, Institutions and Organizations Pinter London and Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Etzkowitz (2002a) ArticleTitle‘Incubation of Incubators: Innovation as a Triple Helix of University–Industry–Government Networks’ Science and Public Policy 29 IssueID2 115–128

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Etzkowitz (2002b) MIT and the Rise of Entrepreneurial Science Routledge London

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Etzkowitz L. Leydesdorff (1997) Introduction: Universities in the Global Knowledge Economy H. Etzkowitz L. Leydesdorff (Eds) Universities and the Global Knowledge Economy: a Triple Helix of University–Industry–Government Relations Pinter London and Washington 1–8

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Etzkowitz L. Leydesdorff (1999) ArticleTitle‘The Future Location of Research and Technology Transfer’ Journal of Technology Transfer 24 111–123 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1007807302841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M. Feldman P. Desrochers (2003) ArticleTitle‘Research Universities and Local Economic Development: Lessons from the History of the Johns Hopkins University’ Industry and Innovation 10 IssueID1 5–24 Occurrence Handle10.1080/1366271032000068078

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Florida (1995) ArticleTitle‘Toward the Learning Region’ Futures 27 IssueID5 527–536 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0016-3287(95)00021-N

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • R. Forrant (2001) ArticleTitle‘Pulling Together in Lowell: The University and the Regional Development Process’ European Planning Studies 9 IssueID5 613–628 Occurrence Handle10.1080/09654310120057331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • C. Freeman (1991) ArticleTitle‘Networks of Innovators: a Synthesis of Research Issues’ Research Policy 20 499–514

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Freeman (1995) ArticleTitle‘The National System of Innovation in Historical Perspective’ Cambridge Journal of Economics 19 5–24

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Freeman L. Soete (2000) The Economics of Industrial Innovation EditionNumber3 Continuum New York

    Google Scholar 

  • S. Garlick (1998) Creative Associations in Special Places: Enhancing the Partnership Role of Universities in Building Competitive Regional Economies Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs Canberra

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Goddard (1999) Universities and Regional Development: An Overview Z. Klich (Eds) Universities and Regional Engagement Southern Cross University Press Lismore 33–46

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Goddard P. Chatterton (1999) ArticleTitle‘Regional Development Agencies and the Knowledge Economy: Harnessing the Potential of Universities’ Environment and Planning C Government and Policy 17 685–699

    Google Scholar 

  • D.H. Guston (2000) ArticleTitle‘Retiring the Social Contract for Science’ Issues in Science and Technology 16 IssueID4 32–36

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Hagen (2002) ArticleTitle‘Globalization, University Transformation and Economic Regeneration: A UK Case Study of Public/Private Sector Partnership’ International Journal of Public Sector Management 15 IssueID3 205–219 Occurrence Handle10.1108/09513550210423370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Hall (1994) Innovation, Economics and Evolution Harvester Sheaf New York

    Google Scholar 

  • N. Hansen (1992) ArticleTitle‘Competition, Trust, and Reciprocity in the Development of Innovative Regional Milieux’ Papers in Regional Science 71 IssueID2 95–105 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF01434257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • D.M. Hart (1988) Forged Consensus: Science, Technology and Economic Policy in the United States, 1921–1953 Princeton University Press Princeton

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Hassink (2001) ArticleTitle‘Towards Regionally Embedded Innovation Support Systems in South Korea? Case Studies from Kyongbuk-Taegu and Kyonggi’ Urban Studies 38 1373–1395

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Hassink (2002) ArticleTitle‘Regional Innovation Support Systems: Recent Trends in Germany and East Asia’ European Planning Studies 10 IssueID2 153–164 Occurrence Handle10.1080/09654310120114463

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • B.A. Holland (1999) From Murky to Meaningful: The Role of Mission in Institutional Change R.G. Bringle R. Games E.A. Malloy (Eds) Colleges and Universities as Citizens Allyn and Bacon Boston 48–73

    Google Scholar 

  • B.A. Holland (2001) ArticleTitle‘Toward a Definition and Characterization of the Engaged University’ Metropolitan Universities 2 IssueID3 20–29

    Google Scholar 

  • R.M. Kanter (1995) World Class:Thriving Locally in the Global Economy Simon and Schuster New York

    Google Scholar 

  • D. Keeble C. Lawson B. Moore F. Wilkinson (1999) ArticleTitle‘Collective Learning Processes, Networking and ‘Institutional Thickness,’ in the Cambridge Region’ Regional Studies 33 IssueID4 319–332

    Google Scholar 

  • M. Klofsten D. Jones-Evans C. Scharberg (1999) ArticleTitle‘Growing the Linkoping Technopole – a Longitudinal Study of Triple Helix Development in Sewden’ Journal of Technology Transfer 24 125–138 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1007843019679

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • P. Krugman (1997) Good news from Ireland: A geographical perspective A. Gray (Eds) International Perspectives on the Irish Economy Indecon Dublin

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Lawton Smith D. Keeble C. Lawson B. Moore F. Wilkinson (1998) Contrasting Regional Innovation Systems in Oxford and Cambridge J. Mothe ParticleDe La G. Pacquet (Eds) Local and Regional systems of Innovation Kluwer Boston/Dordrecht/London

    Google Scholar 

  • H. Lawton Smith D. Keeble C. Lawson B. Moore F. Wilkinson (2001) ArticleTitle‘University–Business Interaction in the Oxford and Cambridge Regions’ Tijdshrift voor Economosche en Sociale Geografie 92 IssueID1 88–99

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Lawson (1997) Territorial Clustering and High technology Innovation: from Industrial Districts to Innovative milieux, Working Paper 54 ESRC Centre for Business Research, University of Cambridge Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • C. Lawson E. Lorenz (1999) ArticleTitle‘Collective Learning, Tacit Knowledge and Regional Innovative Capacity,’ Regional Studies 33 IssueID4 305–317

    Google Scholar 

  • L. Leydesdorff H. Etzkowitz (1988) ArticleTitle‘The Triple Helix as a Model for Innovation Studies’ Science and Public Policy 25 IssueID3 195–203

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Lundvall (1992) Introduction B. Lundvall (Eds) National Systems of Innovation: Towards a Theory of Innovation and Interactive Learning Pinter London

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Lundvall B. Johnson (1994) ArticleTitle‘The Learning Economy’ Journal of Industry Studies 1 IssueID2 23–42

    Google Scholar 

  • Lundvall, B.A., B. Johnson, E.S. Andersen, and B. Dalum, 2001, National Systems of Production, Innovation, and Competence Building, DRUID, viewed 28 August 2002, <http://www.druid.dk.

  • K. Morgan (1997) ArticleTitle‘The Learning Region: Institutions, Innovation and Regional Renewal’ Regional Studies 31 491–503 Occurrence Handle10.1080/00343409750132289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • K. Morgan C. Nauwelaers (1999) A Regional Perspective on Innovation: From Theory to Strategy K. Morgan C. Nauwelaers (Eds) Regional Innovation Strategies: The Challenge for Less-Favoured Regions The Stationery Office London 1–18

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Niosi T.G. Bas (2001) ArticleTitle‘The Competencies of Regions: Canada’s Clusters in Biotechnology’ Small Business Technology 17 31–42

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) (1997) National Systems of Innovation OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1999a) The Response of Higher Education Institutions to Regional Needs Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI/IMHE/DG(96)10/REVI), OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (1999b) Boosting Innovation: The Cluster Approach OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2000d) A New Economy: The Changing Role of Innovation and Information Technology in Growth OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2001b) Citites and Regions in the New Learning Economy OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • InstitutionalAuthorNameOECD (2002a) OECD Science, Technology and Industry Outlook OECD Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Piergiovanni E. Santarelli (2001) ArticleTitle‘Patents and the Geographic Localization of R&D Spillovers in French Manufacturing’ Regional Studies 35 IssueID8 697–702 Occurrence Handle10.1080/00343400120101434

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • M.E. Porter (1990) The Competitive Advantage of Nations Macmillan London and Basingstoke

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Putnam (1993) ArticleTitle‘The Prosperous Community: Social Capital and Public Life’ American Prospect 13 35–42

    Google Scholar 

  • M.D. Santoro A.K. Chakrabarti (2002) ArticleTitle‘Firm Size and Technology Centrality in Industry–University Interactions’ Research Policy 31 1163–1180 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0048-7333(01)00190-1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • A. Saxenian (1990) ArticleTitle‘Regional Networks and the Resurgence of Silicon Valley’ California Management Review 33 89–112

    Google Scholar 

  • A. Saxenian (1994) Regional advantage: Culture and Competition in Silicon Valley and Route 128 Harvard University Press Cambridge, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • B.L.R. Smith (1990) American Science Policy Since World War II The Brookings Intitution Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • R. Sternberg (2000a) University–Industry Relationships in Germany and their Regional Consequences Z Acs (Eds) Regional Innovation, Knowledge and Global Change Pinter London and New York 89–122

    Google Scholar 

  • J. Sutz (1997) The New Role of theUniversity in the Productive Sector H. Etzkowitz L. Leydesdorff (Eds) Universities and the Global Knowledge Economy: A Triple Helix of University–Industry–Government Relations Pinter London and Washington 11–20

    Google Scholar 

  • B. Looy ParticleVan K. Debackere P. Andries (2003) ArticleTitle‘Policies to Stimulate Regional Innovation Capabilities via University–Industry Collaboration: an Analysis and an Assessment’ R&D Management 33 IssueID2 209–229 Occurrence Handle10.1111/1467-9310.00293

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • E. Wever E. Stam (1999) ArticleTitle‘Clusters of High Technology SMEs: The Dutch Case’ Regional Studies 33 IssueID4 391–400

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia

    Chrys Gunasekara

Authors
  1. Chrys Gunasekara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chrys Gunasekara.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gunasekara, C. Reframing the Role of Universities in the Development of Regional Innovation Systems. J Technol Transfer 31, 101–113 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-005-5016-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-005-5016-4

Keywords

JEL Classification

Search

Navigation