Universities, innovation and regions – UiS podkast: Recent Episodes
Universitetet i Stavanger
Universities are expected to play a pivotal role in innovation and development of regions. Are they able to perform this challenging role, and by what means? In this podcast, we will hear about various mechanisms through which universities can make impactful contribution. These include leveraging their connections and networks, showing place leadership in policy development and interventions, and deepening knowledge exchange collaboration with local stakeholders.
In this episode, David Fernandez Guerrero reflects on his research about the differences in the drivers of university-industry collaboration across different types of regions. Adopting both qualitative and quantitative approaches, David discusses how he set out to describe how he empirically identified linkages between several factors and university-industry collaboration. He further elaborates on how he used rich case studies in three exemplar regions to discover the mechanisms underlying these relationships. He also highlights some policy lessons from the findings of his research. Read more about David’s research by following this link: https://runinproject.eu/david-fernandez-guerrero/
You can find a transcript of the episode here (pdf, opens in a new window)
Episode description (minimum 4 lines, you may also add links to external sites): What is the effect of firm’s collaboration with universities on their bottom-line? In this episode, Sergio Manrique makes a case for evaluating the economic impact of collaboration for firms. Using the case study of Autonomous University of Barcelona and a chemical company, Sergio discusses how collaboration between firm actors and university scientists evolve. He also highlights some of the tangible economic benefits from such partnerships. He concludes with a reflection on the policy implications for universities and regions, and how the lessons can be transferred to developing country contexts. You could find more about Sergio’s work by following this link: https://runinproject.eu/sergio-andres-manrique-garzon/
You can find a transcript of the episode here (pdf, opens in a new window)
This episode discusses how PhD education affects the employment opportunities of PhDs and universities’ socioeconomic impact at the regional level. Eloïse Germain-Alamartine examines different career possibilities for PhDs and the barriers hindering them to land on a satisfactory employment after their completion. She points out to the mismatch between the needs of the regions and the competences of PhD-holders, which can be overcome through the involvement of relevant stakeholders into the curriculum design. Focusing on the entrepreneurial university model, Eloïse sheds light on the responsibilities of the universities to make the most benefits for the involved actors in PhD education and emphasizes the impact of universities on regional socio-economic development through human and social capital via doctoral candidates. She mentions several practical recommendations such as dedicated career services for PhDs.
You can read more about Eloïse’s research by following this link. http://liu.diva-portal.org/smash/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A1412990&dswid=4392
This episode discusses how PhD education can help regional development and innovation through becoming more collaborative. Saeed Moghadam-Saman examines the specific role of doctoral candidates in strengthening the collaboration between academia and external stakeholders and the skills that they require to become more effective moderators in this process. Drawing on interviews from three different regions within RUNIN network – Stavanger (Norway), Linköping (Sweden) and Twente (Netherlands), he focuses on the existence of a culture for collaborative PhD programs and the complementarity of regular PhD qualifications with “generic/transferable skills”, which he discusses under three categories, i.e., interpersonal, instrumental and systemic skills. Saeed emphasizes that doctorands get more opportunity to develop those skills in a collaborative PhD program. He concludes by pointing out to the need to consider differences between academic disciplines and the active involvement of external stakeholders in the design of PhD education in line with their priorities and expectations. You can read more about Saeed’s research by following this link. https://uis.brage.unit.no/uis-xmlui/handle/11250/3041565
This episode discusses how different types of proximity (geographical and non-geographical – cognitive, organizational, institutional, and social) influence various types of collaborations between universities and firms. Drawing on a survey of 1200 Norwegian businesses and a case study of a Norwegian multinational enterprise, Utku Ali Riza Alpaydin examines the university-industry collaboration (UIC) process (initiation, outputs, types, geography, motivation) from the firm perspective. Utku emphasizes that proximity, in general, is important for UICs, but their importance changes by collaboration channels and that proximities can be developed during the collaboration process. He concludes by pointing out to the need to pay attention to the non-traditional collaboration types, such as education-oriented projects, and to increase the match between local university competences and regional industrial needs given the higher share of collaborations at the regional level. You can read more about Utku’s research by following this link. https://uis.brage.unit.no/uis-xmlui/handle/11250/2732397
This episode discusses the transformation of entrepreneurial universities into engaged universities in peripheral, less-developed regions. Focusing on the cases of two universities from RUNIN network, the University of Aveiro in Portugal and the University of Twente in the Netherlands, he examines the hurdles that universities face in this transformation such as institutional structures, strong established identities and the focus on the technological innovation. Yet, Ridvan emphasizes that engaged university is a global phenomenon and increasingly becoming a reality in response to the heightened expectations from universities under different regional needs and contexts. Ridvan proposes a differentiated funding mechanism for universities in peripheral regions and more flexibility for the evaluation of academic performance that pays attention to the different missions of universities. He concludes by questioning the validity of institutional thinness concept for less-developed regions in Western Europe and depicting an ideal engaged university profile. You can read more about Ridvan’s research by following this link. https://hvlopen.brage.unit.no/hvlopen-xmlui/handle/11250/2976863
This episode discusses how networks of individual academics affect the geography of their interactions for innovation and regional development. Rhoda Ahoba Sam analyzes the networks of academics seen as the key actors for knowledge transfer processes. Drawing on interviews from three different regions within RUNIN network – Lincoln (UK), Stavanger (Norway) and Linköping (Sweden), she sheds light on the causal mindset and effectual, co-creative processes on the formation and continuation of networks built for regional engagement. Rhoda emphasizes the complementarity of local and international networks and the importance of creating networks that involve all relevant stakeholders around the same vision in the region for a more effective collaboration. She concludes by providing some policy actions such as the establishment of inclusive platforms to build networks between academics and regional stakeholders. You can read more about Rhoda’s research by following this link. https://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/id/eprint/44721/
This episode discusses how regional stakeholders come together to boost knowledge-based innovation and economic development in their regions and the preconditions for increasing the bridge-building role of universities in this regard. Lisa Nieth focuses on the alignment of expectations from regional stakeholders and the corresponding capabilities of universities, and the role of trust between individuals in these processes. She emphasizes the uniqueness of regional constellations, the need for empowerment of individual academics who are willing to engage regionally and the installation of necessary institutions within universities. By providing examples from two regions (Aalborg in Denmark and Twente in Netherlands) that she examined, Lisa concludes with some practical takeaways for policymakers. You can read more about Lisa’s research by following this link. https://research.utwente.nl/en/publications/it-takes-two-sides-to-build-a-bridge-universities-as-institutiona
This episode discusses the processes through which universities contribute to the policymaking in terms of regional development and innovation. Drawing on a comparative case study involving University of Aveiro (Portugal), University of Twente (Netherlands) and Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain), Liliana Fonseca analyzes how universities interact with regional government authorities in innovation strategy and policymaking under different regional contexts. She concludes by emphasizing the importance of internal alignment within universities, the role of the individual agency, the capability of universities to adapt their expertise to the regional needs and the compatibility of regional and international profiles. You can read more about Liliana’s research by following this link. https://ria.ua.pt/handle/10773/33444
This episode discusses the factors (individual, societal and contextual) that motivate academics to engage with external stakeholders for knowledge transfer purposes. Kwadwo Atta-Owusu analyzes the significance of different motivations and drivers of academics’ engagement with external actors across a myriad of channels. He focuses on the role of research advancement and regional attachment in the academics’ decision to engage. He concludes by summarizing the key takeaways for universities and policymakers to increase the levels and benefits of collaboration between academics and the regional partners. You can read more about Kwadwo’s research by following this link. https://uis.brage.unit.no/uis-xmlui/handle/11250/2739444
This episode discusses the conditions under which quadruple helix model of regional innovation functions better. Huong Nguyen analyzes how the triple helix model covering the relations among university, industry and government actors has evolved into the quadruple helix with the increasing significance of civil society and other civil stakeholders for the innovation processes. She concludes by emphasizing the urge to overcome the current power imbalance, the creation of necessary structures and organizations, and the need to focus on the expectations and satisfaction of civil stakeholders for an efficient Quadruple Helix model. You can read more about Huong’s latest research by following this link: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2022.121866
This episode discusses the impact that a university has on the industrial development of a region. Drawing on the case of Aalborg University in Denmark, Gerwin Evers analyzes how the university and local industry research collaboration has contributed to regional growth. He throws the spotlight on the interdependent channels of research collaboration and graduate production in the region’s development journey. He concludes by highlighting some lessons policymakers could draw upon. You can read more about Gerwin’s research by following this link. https://vbn.aau.dk/ws/files/353399253/PHD_Gerwin_Evers_E_pdf.pdf