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Searching Low and High What Types of Firms use Universities as a Source of Innovation?

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  • Keld Laursen
  • Ammon Salter

Abstract

This paper examines the factors that influence whether firms draw from universities in their innovative activities. The link between the universities and industrial innovation, and the role of different search strategies in influencing the propensity of firms to use universities is explored. The results suggest that firms who adopt “open” search strategies and invest in R&D are more likely than other firms to draw from universities, indicating that managerial choice matters in shaping the propensity of firms to draw from universities.

Suggested Citation

  • Keld Laursen & Ammon Salter, 2003. "Searching Low and High What Types of Firms use Universities as a Source of Innovation?," DRUID Working Papers 03-16, DRUID, Copenhagen Business School, Department of Industrial Economics and Strategy/Aalborg University, Department of Business Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:aal:abbswp:03-16
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    Cited by:

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    2. Daniel Ljungberg & Mattias Johansson & Maureen McKelvey, 2009. "Polarization of the Swedish University Sector: Structural Characteristics and Positioning," Chapters, in: Maureen McKelvey & Magnus Holmén (ed.), Learning to Compete in European Universities, chapter 6, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    3. Hossam S Ismail & Jenny Poolton & Hossein Sharifi, 2011. "An Interventionist Framework for Promoting Sustainable Growth in SMEs: The Role of Heis as Implementation Specialists," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 29(4), pages 622-640, August.
    4. Yuri Simachev & Mikhail Kuzyk & Vera Feygina, 2014. "The nature of innovation channels at the micro level: evidence from Russian manufacturing firms," Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 12(2), pages 103-123, May.
    5. Lee, Yoo Hwan & Graff, Gregory D., 2016. "Academic Knowledge Spillovers and the Role of Geographic Proximity in Regional Agriculture-related Sectors: The impact of agricultural research at Colorado State University on the Colorado economy, an," 2016 Annual Meeting, July 31-August 2, Boston, Massachusetts 235717, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    6. Braunerhjelm, Pontus, 2006. "Regional Specialization and Universities: The New Verus the Old," Working Paper Series in Economics and Institutions of Innovation 55, Royal Institute of Technology, CESIS - Centre of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies.
    7. Roberto FONTANA & Aldo GEUNA & Mireille MATT, 2005. "Factors Affecting University–Industry R&D Collaboration : The importance of screening and signalling," Working Papers of BETA 2005-07, Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg.
    8. Martina Kauffeld-Monz, 2005. "Knowledge spillovers within regional networks of innovation and the contribution made by public research," ERSA conference papers ersa05p440, European Regional Science Association.
    9. Tindara Abbate & Fabrizio Cesaroni & Angelo Presenza, 2021. "Knowledge transfer from universities to low- and medium-technology industries: evidence from Italian winemakers," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 46(4), pages 989-1016, August.
    10. Kadri Ukrainski, 2006. "The role and determinants of innovation sources in Estonian wood sector companies," University of Tartu - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, in: Tõnis Mets & Janita Andrijevskaja & Urve Venesaar & Ene Kolbre (ed.), Entrepreneurship in Estonia: policies, practices, education and research, edition 1, volume 28, chapter 8, pages 154-171, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Tartu (Estonia).

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    University-industry links; innovation; external search strategies;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities
    • C42 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Econometric and Statistical Methods: Special Topics - - - Survey Methods
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D

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