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Does technology transfer increase local cognitive proximity between university and industry? The case of Italy

Author

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  • Laura Ciucci

    (LEM - Lille économie management - UMR 9221 - UA - Université d'Artois - UCL - Université catholique de Lille - Université de Lille - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

  • Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis

    (LISA - Laboratoire « Lieux, Identités, eSpaces, Activités » (UMR CNRS 6240 LISA) - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - Università di Corsica Pasquale Paoli [Université de Corse Pascal Paoli])

Abstract

This article contributes to the literature on the effects of universities on local innovation ecosystems. In particular, it examines the extent to which technology transfer policies implemented by universities impact the cognitive proximity between academic and non-academic agents at local level. To do so, we consider both academic and non-academic patents data for a panel of Italian Provinces (NUTS3) in the timespan 1999–2009. By means of fractional response, we find a positive effect, which is stronger in cases where the initial level of proximity is low. However, results suggest that the effect of local technology transfer policies does not depend on the level of research performance of the university, except for top-tier universities, for which the impact is relatively higher. Finally, as a further robustness check, a zero-inflated beta model and a recursive fractional probit approach are employed in order to take into account the potential existence of different data generating processes and the potential presence of an endogeneity problem between the cognitive proximity index and the adoption of local technology transfer policies.

Suggested Citation

  • Laura Ciucci & Marie-Antoinette Maupertuis, 2023. "Does technology transfer increase local cognitive proximity between university and industry? The case of Italy," Post-Print hal-04542171, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:hal-04542171
    DOI: 10.1007/s40888-023-00308-9
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cognitive proximity ; Fractional response model ; Patent ; Technology transfer ; University;
    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
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes
    • R11 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics - - - Regional Economic Activity: Growth, Development, Environmental Issues, and Changes

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