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The Economic and Innovation Contribution of Universities: A Regional Perspective

Author

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  • Robert Huggins

    (Centre for International Competitiveness, Cardiff School of Management, University of Wales Institute, Colchester Avenue, Cardiff CF23 9XR, Wales)

  • Andrew Johnston

    (Centre for Individual and Organisational Development, Sheffield Business School, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield S1 1WB, England)

Abstract

Universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs) have come to be regarded as key sources of knowledge utilisable in the pursuit of economic growth. Although there have been numerous studies assessing the economic and innovation impact of HEIs, there has been little systematic analysis of differences in the relative contribution of HEIs across regions. With this paper we provide an exploration of some of these differences in the context of the UK's regions. Significant differences are found in the wealth generated by universities according to regional location and type of institution. Universities in more competitive regions are generally more productive than those located in less competitive regions. Also, traditional universities are generally more productive than their newer counterparts, with university productivity positively related to knowledge commercialisation capabilities. Weaker regions tend to be more dependent on their universities for income and innovation, but often these universities underperform in comparison with counterpart institutions in more competitive regions. We argue that uncompetitive regions lack the additional knowledge infrastructure, besides universities, which is more commonly a feature of competitive regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert Huggins & Andrew Johnston, 2009. "The Economic and Innovation Contribution of Universities: A Regional Perspective," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 27(6), pages 1088-1106, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:27:y:2009:i:6:p:1088-1106
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    Cited by:

    1. Zoltan Gal, 2012. "The Role of Mid-Ranged Universities in Knowledge Transfer in Central and Eastern Europe - Sustainable University Strategies in the Era of Post-Mass Education, UDK 378. 4 : 001. 92," Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, Alliance of Central-Eastern European Universities, vol. 1(1), pages 50-70, June.
    2. Marina van Geenhuizen, 2013. "Valorization of university knowledge: what are the barriers and can ‘living labs’ provide solutions?," Chapters, in: Tüzin Baycan (ed.), Knowledge Commercialization and Valorization in Regional Economic Development, chapter 7, pages 135-156, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Cornelia Lawson, 2016. "Putting the Region First: Knowledge Transfer at Universities in Greater Manchester," International Studies in Entrepreneurship, in: David Audretsch & Erik Lehmann & Michele Meoli & Silvio Vismara (ed.), University Evolution, Entrepreneurial Activity and Regional Competitiveness, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 303-325, Springer.
    4. Tan Yigitcanlar & Ingi Runar Edvardsson & Hjalti Johannesson & Md Kamruzzaman & Giuseppe Ioppolo & Surabhi Pancholi, 2017. "Knowledge-based development dynamics in less favoured regions: insights from Australian and Icelandic university towns," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 25(12), pages 2272-2292, December.
    5. Tommaso Agasisti & Aleksei Egorov & Daria Zinchenko & Oleg Leshukov, 2018. "Universities’ Efficiency And Regional Economic Short-Run Growth: Empirical Evidence From Russia," HSE Working papers WP BRP 203/EC/2018, National Research University Higher School of Economics.
    6. Medase, Kehinde, 2019. "The Impact of the Heterogeneity of Employees’ Qualifications on Firm-level Innovation Evidence from Nigerian Firms," VfS Annual Conference 2019 (Leipzig): 30 Years after the Fall of the Berlin Wall - Democracy and Market Economy 203563, Verein für Socialpolitik / German Economic Association.
    7. Taheri, Mozhdeh & van Geenhuizen, Marina, 2016. "Teams' boundary-spanning capacity at university: Performance of technology projects in commercialization," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 31-43.
    8. Marina van Geenhuizen & Peter Nijkamp, 2012. "Creative Cities in a Knowledge Society: Introduction," Chapters, in: Marina van Geenhuizen & Peter Nijkamp (ed.), Creative Knowledge Cities, chapter 1, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    9. Alberto Botta, 2014. "Structural asymmetries at the roots of the eurozone crisis: what's new for industrial policy in the EU?," PSL Quarterly Review, Economia civile, vol. 67(269), pages 169-216.
    10. Andrew Johnston & Robert Huggins, 2017. "University-industry links and the determinants of their spatial scope: A study of the knowledge intensive business services sector," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 96(2), pages 247-260, June.
    11. Fumi Kitagawa & Lorraine Warren & Stefanos Marangos, 2010. "Networks and Spatiality of University Incubators: Global and local links amongst SETsquared spinoff/ intra-firms at Universities of Bath, Bristol, Southampton and Surrey in England," Working Papers 2010R03, Orkestra - Basque Institute of Competitiveness.
    12. Chau, Vinh Sum & Gilman, Mark & Serbanica, Cristina, 2017. "Aligning university–industry interactions: The role of boundary spanning in intellectual capital transfer," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 199-209.
    13. Marina B. VIDREVICH & Galina Yu. PAKHALCHAK, 2018. "Why Russia Adopts Europe’s Experience of Embedding Universities in Society," Upravlenets, Ural State University of Economics, vol. 9(2), pages 26-30, April.
    14. Rita Lamboglia & Daniela Mancini & Francesco Paolone, 2018. "A Roadmap for Performance Measurement in Smarter Universities," MANAGEMENT CONTROL, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 2018(2 Suppl.), pages 113-133.
    15. Qiantao Zhang & Niall G. MacKenzie & Dylan Jones-Evans & Robert Huggins, 2016. "Leveraging knowledge as a competitive asset? The intensity, performance and structure of universities’ entrepreneurial knowledge exchange activities at a regional level," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 657-675, October.

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