The increased popularity of and attention paid to innovation-based regional growth and development has, among other things, raised the importance of universities in regional innovation systems (RIS). The triple-helix literature especially underscores the value of increased interaction and interdependence between universities, industry, and government in modern, knowledge-based, economies by acclaiming the rise of the entrepreneurial. The author provides a comparative analysis of the RIS problems in the North East in the United Kingdom and Scania in Sweden and the role of universities in regional innovation policies addressing these problems. The results of this comparison question a one-size-fits-all (entrepreneurial) model to harness university-based knowledge resources for regional development. Instead, it is shown that various constellations are possible dependent on the characteristics of the RIS problems.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AsheimB T, 2000, “Industrial districts: the contributions of Marshall and beyond”, in The Oxford Handbook of Economic Geography Eds ClarkGFeldmanMGertlerM (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 413–431
AsheimB TCookeP, 1999, “Local learning and interactive innovation networks in a global economy”, in Making Connections: Technological Learning and Regional Economic Change Eds MaleckiEOinasP (Ashgate, Aldershot, Hants) pp 145–178
4.
AsheimB TGertlerM, 2005, “Regional innovation systems and the geographical foundations of innovation”, in The Oxford Handbook of Innovation Eds FagerbergJMoweryDNelsonR (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 291–317
5.
AsheimB TIsaksenA, 2002, “Regional innovation systems: the integration of local ‘sticky’ and global ‘ubiquitous’ knowledge”Journal of Technology Transfer2777–86
6.
AsheimB TAnnerstedtJBlazekJBoschmaRBrzicaDCookePDahlstrand LindholmÅDe Castillo HermosaJLaredoPMoulaMPiccalugaA, 2006, “Constructing regional advantage: principles, perspectives, policies”, DG Research Report, European Commission, Brussels
7.
BatheltHMalmbergAMaskellP, 2004, “Clusters and knowledge: local buzz, global pipelines and the process of knowledge creation”Progress in Human Geography28(1) 31–56
8.
BenneworthP, 2006, “Bringing Cambridge to Consett? Universities and new technology sectors in old industrial regions”, presented at CIRCLE seminar, 15 May 2006, Lund; copy available from the author, Centre for Urban and Regional Development Studies, University of Newcastle
9.
BenneworthPCharlesD, 2005, “University spin-off policies and economic development in less successful regions: learning from two decades of policy practice”European Planning Studies13537–557
10.
BenneworthPCharlesD, 2006, “Bringing Cambridge to Consett? Building university-centred entrepreneurial networks in peripheral regions”, case-study report 1: The North East of England, http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/p.s.benneworth/publs.htm
11.
BenneworthPDawleyS, 2005, “Managing the university third strand innovation process? Developing innovation support services in regionally engaged universities”Knowledge, Technology, Policy18(3) 74–94
12.
BraczykH-JCookePHeidenreichM (Eds), 1998Regional Innovation Systems (UCL Press, London)
13.
BunnellTCoeN, 2001, “Spaces and scales of innovation”Progress in Human Geography25569–589
14.
CharlesD, 2003, “Universities and territorial development: reshaping the regional role of UK universities”Local Economy18(1) 7–20
15.
CharlesDBenneworthP, 2001, “Are we realizing our potential? Joining up science and technology policy in the English regions”Regional Studies3573–79
16.
CharlesDHodgsonC, 2005, “The multi-level governance of science, technology and innovation: a case study of the North East of England”, paper presented at 5th Triple Helix Conference, 18 – 21 May 2005, http://www.staff.ncl.ac.uk/p.s.benneworth/publs.htm
17.
CoenenLMoodyssonJAsheimB T, 2004, “Nodes, networks and proximities: on the knowledge dynamics of the Medicon Valley biotechnology cluster”European Planning Studies121003–1018
18.
CookeP, 2005, “The evolution of biotechnology in bioregions and their globalisation”, paper prepared for The ‘Unlocking Biotechnology’ subtheme of the EGOS Colloquium 30 June – 2 July, 2005, Berlin; copy available from the author, Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Cardiff
19.
CookeP, 2006, “The international encyclopedia of human geography: locality debates”, paper presented at seminar at the Department of Social and Economic Geography at Lund University, 1 June 2006; copy available from the author, Centre for Advanced Studies, University of Cardiff
20.
CookePLeydesdorffL, 2006, “Regional development in the knowledge-based economy: the construction of advantage”Journal of Technology Transfer315–15
21.
CookePBoekholtPTödtlingF, 2000The Governance of Innovation in Europe: Regional Perspectives in Global Competitiveness (Pinter, London)
22.
De BruijnPLagendijkA, 2005, “Regional innovation systems in the Lisbon strategy”European Planning Studies131153–1172
23.
DelantyG, 2002, “The university and modernity: a history of the present”, in The Virtual University: Knowledge, Markets and Management Eds RobinsKWebsterF (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 31–48
24.
DoloreuxD, 2002, “What we should know about regional systems of innovation”Technology in Society24243–263
25.
DoloreuxDPartoS, 2005, “Regional innovation systems: current discourse and unresolved issues”Technology in Society27133–153
26.
DukeCHassinkRPowellJPuukaJ, 2006Supporting the Contribution of Higher Education Institutions to Regional Development Peer Review Report, North East of England (OECD, Paris)
EdquistC, 2005, “Systems of innovation: perspectives and challenges”, in The Oxford Handbook of Innovation Eds FagerbergJMoweryDNelsonR (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 181–208
29.
EtzkowitzH, 2003, “Research groups as ‘quasi-firms’: the invention of the entrepreneurial university”Research Policy32109–121
30.
EtzkowitzHKlofstenM, 2005, “The innovating region: toward a theory of knowledge-based regional development”R&D Management35243–255
31.
EtzkowitzHLeydesdorffL, 2000, “The dynamics of innovation: from national systems and ‘Mode 2’ to a triple helix of university – industry – government relations”Research Policy29109–123
HowellsJ, 1999, “Regional systems of innovation?”, in Innovation Policy in a Global Economy Eds ArchibugiDHowellsJMichieJ (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge) pp 67–93
38.
HowellsJ, 2005, “Innovation and regional economic development: a matter of perspective?”Research Policy341220–1234
39.
HudsonR, 1997, “Restructuring region and state: the case of North East England”Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie8015–30
40.
HudsonR, 2005, “Rethinking change in old industrial regions: reflecting on the experiences of North East England”Environment and Planning A37581–596
41.
IammarinoS, 2005, “An evolutionary integrated view of regional systems of innovation: concepts, measures and historical perspectives”European Planning Studies13497–519
42.
IsaksenA, 2001, “Building regional innovation systems: is endogenous industrial development possible in the global economy?”Canadian Journal of Regional Science1101–120
43.
LagnevikMSjöholmILarekeAÖstbergJ, 2003The Dynamic of Innovation Clusters: A Study of the Food Industry (Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, Glos)
44.
LambooyJ, 2005, “Innovation and knowledge: theory and regional policy”European Planning Studies131137–1152
45.
Lawton SmithH, 2003, “Universities and clustering”, paper presented at the Academic Summit of the TCI conference, 15 September, Gothenburg; copy available from the author, School of Management and Organizational Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London
46.
LorenzenM, 1999Localised Learning and Community Capabilities (Samfundslitteratur, Copenhagen)
47.
LorenzenM, 2001, “Localized learning and policy: academic advice on enhancing regional competitiveness through learning”European Planning Studies9163–185
48.
LundvallB-Å, 2002, “The university in the learning economy”, DRUID WP 02 – 06, http://www.druid.dk
49.
LundvallB-ÅMaskellP, 2000, “Nation states and economic development”, in The Oxford Handbook of Economic Geography Eds ClarkG LFeldmanMGertlerM (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 353–372
50.
MacKinnonDCumbersAChapmanK, 2002, “Learning, innovation and regional development: a critical appraisal of recent debates”Progress in Human Geography26293–311
51.
MaskellPMalmbergA, 1999, “Localised learning and industrial competitiveness”Cambridge Journal of Economics23167–185
52.
MaskellPEskelinenHHannibalssonLMalmbergAVatneE, 1998Competitiveness, Localised Learning and Regional Development (Routledge, London)
53.
MiettinenR, 2002National Innovation Systems: Scientific Concept or Political Rhetoric (Edita, Helsinki)
54.
MorganK, 2004, “The exaggerated death of geography: learning, proximity and territorial innovation systems”Journal of Economic Geography43–22
55.
MoweryDSampatB, 2005, “Universities in national innovation systems”, in The Oxford Handbook of Innovation Eds FagerbergJMoweryDNelsonR (Oxford University Press, Oxford) pp 209–239
NauwelaersCWintjesR, 2002, “Innovating SMEs and regions: the need for policy intelligence and interactive policies”Technology Analysis and Strategic Management14201–215
58.
NilssonJ E (Ed.), 2006The Role of Universities in Regional Innovation Systems—A Nordic Perspective (Copenhagen Business School Press, Copenhagen)
59.
NilssonMSvensson-HenningMWilkensonO, 2002Skånska kluster och Profilområden: En kritisk granskning (Region Skåne, Malmö)
60.
OECD, 2003Science, Technology and Industry Scoreboard 2003 (OECD Publishing, Paris)
61.
OughtonCLandabasoMMorganK, 2002, “The regional innovation paradox: innovation policy and industrial policy”Journal of Technology Transfer2797–110
62.
ParkS-C, 2002, “Science parks in Sweden as regional development strategies: a case study on Ideon Science Park”AI and Society16288–298
63.
PikeA, 1999, “The politics of factory closures and task forces in the North East region of England”Regional Studies33567–586
64.
ReadingsB, 1994The University in Ruins (Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA)
65.
RuttenRBoekemaFKuijpersE, 2003, “HEIs, regions and the knowledge-based economy”, in Economic Geography of Higher Education: Knowledge Infrastructure and Learning Regions Eds RuttenRBoekemaFKuijpersE (Routledge, London) pp 244–252
66.
StorperM, 1997The Regional World: Territorial Development in a Global Economy (Guilford Press, New York)
67.
Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 2006, “Lågprismaten hotar svenska livsmedelsjobb”, http://sydsvenskan.se
68.
TödtlingFTripplM, 2005, “One size fits all? Towards a differentiated regional innovation policy approach”Research Policy341203–1219
69.
VorleyT, 2004, “Performing policy? A critical appraisal of the divergence between policy and practice in UK biotechnology”, paper presented at the economic geography research group postgraduate symposium at the University of Sheffield, 8 September, http://www.geog.le.ac.uk/staff.trvl/performing%20policy.pdf
