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University knowledge and firm innovation: evidence from European countries

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  • A. Bellucci

    (IAW, Institute for Applied Economic Research at the University of Tubingen)

  • L. Pennacchio

    (University of Naples Federico II)

Abstract

In recent decades, firms have intensified the exploration of external sources of knowledge to enhance their innovation capabilities. This paper presents an empirical analysis of the factors that affect the importance of academic knowledge for firms’ innovation activities. An integrated approach that simultaneously considers country- and firm-level factors is adopted. Regarding the former factors, the analysis shows that the entrepreneurial orientation of university and the quality of academic research increase the importance of knowledge transfers from universities to firms. This suggests that the environmental and institutional context contributes to cross-national disparities in university-industry interactions and the effectiveness of knowledge transfer. In regard to the latter factors, the results indicate that firms oriented toward open search strategies and radical innovations are more likely to draw knowledge from universities. Furthermore, firms belonging to high technology sectors and firms with high absorptive capacity place greater value on the various links with universities. With respect to firm size, the estimates show an inverted U-shaped relation with the importance of universities as a source of knowledge.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Bellucci & L. Pennacchio, 2016. "University knowledge and firm innovation: evidence from European countries," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 730-752, August.
  • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:41:y:2016:i:4:d:10.1007_s10961-015-9408-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-015-9408-9
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Innovation; University-industry links; Knowledge transfer; University entrepreneurial orientation; Multilevel data;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • L20 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior - - - General

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