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First, Second and Third Tier Universities: Academic Excellence, Local Knowledge Spillovers and Innovation in Europe

Author

Listed:
  • Cristian Barra

    (Università di Salerno)

  • Ornella Wanda Maietta

    (Università di Napoli Federico II and CSEF)

  • Roberto Zotti

    (Università di Salerno)

Abstract

This paper aims to study the drivers of innovation and of university-industry collaboration in the European manufacturing sector, specifically focusing on the extent to which academic excellence may enhance the capacity of firms to develop new products and processes. It shows that academic research has an important direct impact on the firm’s propensity to develop innovation, apart from the indirect effect of academic excellence on partner choice in university-industry R&D collaboration. The results also suggest that the research at lower tier universities has an impact on business innovation and that there is a strong case in favour of public funding also to less prestigious academic institutions.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristian Barra & Ornella Wanda Maietta & Roberto Zotti, 2017. "First, Second and Third Tier Universities: Academic Excellence, Local Knowledge Spillovers and Innovation in Europe," CSEF Working Papers 468, Centre for Studies in Economics and Finance (CSEF), University of Naples, Italy.
    • Handle: RePEc:sef:csefwp:468
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nils Grashof, 2020. "Spill over or Spill out? - A multilevel analysis of the cluster and firm performance relationship," Papers in Evolutionary Economic Geography (PEEG) 2013, Utrecht University, Department of Human Geography and Spatial Planning, Group Economic Geography, revised Mar 2020.
    2. Grashof, Nils, 2020. "Putting the watering can away Towards a targeted (problem-oriented) cluster policy framework," Papers in Innovation Studies 2020/4, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    University–industry interaction; R&D collaboration; Product and process innovation; Academic research quality; University education;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights
    • I23 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Higher Education; Research Institutions
    • D22 - Microeconomics - - Production and Organizations - - - Firm Behavior: Empirical Analysis
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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