Universities and smart specialisation in less developed European regions: an evidence-based overview

Eristian Wibisono

doi:10.18778/1231-1952.29.1.07

Authors

Eristian Wibisono University of Pecs, Faculty of Business and Economics, Rákóczi street 80., H-7622 Pécs, Hungary https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2645-580X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18778/1231-1952.29.1.07

Crossmark check for up

Keywords:

universities, Smart Specialization, regional development, less developed region, Europe

Abstract

This paper aims to review the evidence demonstrating the role of universities in the knowledge diffusion function for Smart Specialisation strategies. It is not new if many experts question whether Smart Specialisation will apply equally in all regions, plus the reason that the study of the role of universities in Smart Specialisation still needs much attention. Through this evidence-based literature review, I have identified three main points that support the role of universities for Smart Specialisation in less developed regions of Europe, including resources in regional innovation systems, public sector investment support for RandD, and strong bonds of the Triple Helix actors.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

ASHEIM, B. (2012), ʽThe changing role of learning regions in the globalizing knowledge economy: A theoretical re-examinationʼ, Regional Studies, 46 (8), pp. 993–1004. https://doi.org/10.1080/00343404.2011.607805
Google Scholar

ASHEIM, B., GRILLITSCH, M. and TRIPPL, M. (2017), ʽSmart Specialization as an Innovation-Driven Strategy for Economic Diversification: Examples From Scandinavian Regionsʼ, Advances in the Theory and Practice of Smart Specialization. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-804137-6.00004-8
Google Scholar

ASHEIM, B. T. (2019), ʽSmart specialisation, innovation policy and regional innovation systems: what about new path development in less innovative regions?ʼ, Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, 32 (1), pp. 8–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2018.1491001
Google Scholar

BARZOTTO, M., CORRADINI, C., FAI, F. M., LABORY, S. and TOMLINSON, P. R. (2019), Enhancing innovative capabilities in lagging regions: An extra-regional collaborative approach to RIS3. https://doi.org/10.1093/cjres/rsz003
Google Scholar

BENNEWORTH, P., COENEN, L., MOODYSSON, J. and ASHEIM, B. (2009), ʽExploring the multiple roles of Lund University in strengthening Scania’s regional innovation system: towards institutional learning?ʼ, European Planning Studies, 17 (11), pp. 1645–1664. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654310903230582
Google Scholar

BODAS-FREITAS, I. M., ROSSI, F. and GEUNA, A. (2014), ʽCollaboration objectives and the location of the university partner: Evidence from the Piedmont region in Italyʼ, Papers in Regional Science, 93, S203–S226. https://doi.org/10.1111/pirs.12054
Google Scholar

BONACCORSI, A. (2009), ʽTowards better use of conditionality in policies for research and innovation under Structural Funds. The intelligent policy challengeʼ, Barca ‘An Agenda for a Reformed Cohesion Policy .
Google Scholar

BOUCHER, G., CONWAY, C. and VAN DER MEER, E. (2003), ʽTiers of engagement by universities in their region’s developmentʼ, Regional Studies, 37 (9), pp. 887–897. https://doi.org/10.1080/0034340032000143896
Google Scholar

CAMAGNI, R. and CAPELLO, R. (2017), ʽRegional innovation patterns and the EU regional policy reform: towards smart innovation policiesʼ, Seminal studies in regional and urban economics, Cham: Springer, pp. 313–343. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57807-1_16
Google Scholar

CAPELLO, R. (2013), Knowledge, Innovation, and Regional Performance: Territorial Patterns of Innovation in Europe. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203085660
Google Scholar

CAPELLO, R. and LENZI, C. (2016), ʽRelevance and utility of European Union research, techno- logical development and innovation policies for a smart growthʼ, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 34 (1), pp. 52–72. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263774X15614655
Google Scholar

CAPELLO, R. and LENZI, C. (2019), ʽStructural dynamics of regional innovation patterns in Eu- rope: the role of inventors’ mobilityʼ, Regional Studies . https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00343404.2017.1379600
Google Scholar

COHEN, W. M. and LEVINTHAL, D. A. (1990), ʽAbsorptive capacity: A new perspective on learning and innovationʼ, Administrative Science Quarterly, pp. 128–152. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393553
Google Scholar

ETZKOWITZ, H. (2003), ʽInnovation in innovation: The triple helix of university-industry-government relationsʼ, Social Science Information, 42 (3), pp. 293–337. https://doi.org/10.1177/05390184030423002
Google Scholar

FORAY, D. (2016), ʽOn the policy space of smart specialization strategiesʼ, European Planning Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2016.1176126
Google Scholar

FORAY, D. (2017), ʽThe economic fundamentals of smart specialization strategiesʼ, [in:] Advances in the theory and practice of smart specialization, Academic Press, pp. 37–50. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804137-6.00002-4
Google Scholar

FORAY, D. (2018), ʽSmart specialisation strategies and industrial modernisation in European regions – theory and practiceʼ, Cambridge Journal of Economics . https://doi.org/10.1093/cje/bey022
Google Scholar

FORAY, D. (2019), ʽIn response to ‘Six critical questions about smart spezialisation’, European Planning Studies, 27 (10), pp. 2066–2078. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2019.1664037
Google Scholar

FORAY, D., DAVID, P. A. and HALL, B. (2009), ʽSmart Specialisation – The Conceptʼ, Knowledge economists policy brief, 9 (85), p. 100.
Google Scholar

FORAY, D., GODDARD, J., BELDARRAIN, X. G., LANDABASO, M., MCCANN, P., MORGAN, K., NAUWELAERS, C. and ORTEGA-ARGILÉS, R. (2012), Guide to Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization (RIS3), Issue March 2012. https://doi.org/10.2776/65746
Google Scholar

FORAY, D., MCCANN, P. and ORTEGA-ARGILÉS, R. (2015), ʽSmart specialization and European regional development policyʼ, Oxford handbook of local competitiveness, pp. 458–480.
Google Scholar

FOTAKIS, C., ROSENMÖLLER, M., BRENNAN, J., MATEI, L., NIKOLOV, R., PETIOT, C. and PUUKKA, J. (2014), ʽThe role of Universities and Research Organisations as drivers for Smart Specialisation at regional levelʼ, EU Directorate-General for Research and Innovation .
Google Scholar

GOLDSTEIN, H. A. and GLASER, K. (2012), ʽResearch universities as actors in the governance of local and regional developmentʼ, The Journal of Technology Transfer, 37 (2), pp. 158–174. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-010-9193-4
Google Scholar

GONZÁLEZ-LÓPEZ, M., DILEO, I. and LOSURDO, F. (2015), University-industry collaboration in the European regional context: The cases of Galicia and Apulia Region. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2578691
Google Scholar

GRILLITSCH, M. (2016), ʽInstitutions, smart specialisation dynamics and policyʼ, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 34 (1), pp. 22–37. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263774X15614694
Google Scholar

GUNASEKARA, C. (2006), ʽReframing the role of universities in the development of regional innovation systemsʼ, The Journal of Technology Transfer, 31 (1), pp. 101–113. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-005-5016-4
Google Scholar

HASHI, I. and STOJČIĆ, N. (2013), ʽThe impact of innovation activities on firm performance using a multi-stage model: Evidence from the Community Innovation Survey 4ʼ, Research Policy . https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.09.011
Google Scholar

HASSINK, R. and GONG, H. (2019), ʽSix critical questions about smart specializationʼ, European Planning Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2019.1650898
Google Scholar

HUGGINS, R. and JOHNSTON, A. (2009), ʽThe economic and innovation contribution of universities: a regional perspectiveʼ, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 27 (6), pp. 1088–1106. https://doi.org/10.1068/c08125b
Google Scholar

ISAKSEN, A. and KARLSEN, J. (2010), ʽDifferent modes of innovation and the challenge of connecting universities and industry: case studies of two regional industries in Norwayʼ, European Planning Studies, 18 (12), pp. 1993–2008. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2010.516523
Google Scholar

KEMPTON, L. (2015), ʽDelivering smart specialization in peripheral regions: the role of Universitiesʼ, Regional Studies, Regional Science. https://doi.org/10.1080/21681376.2015.1085329
Google Scholar

KEMPTON, L., GODDARD, J., EDWARDS, J., HEGYI, F. B. and ELENA-PÉREZ, S. (2013), ʽUniversities and smart specialisationʼ, S3 Policy Brief Series, 3 .
Google Scholar

LANDABASO, M. (1997), ʽThe promotion of innovation in regional policy: proposals for a region- al innovation strategyʼ, Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 9 (1), pp. 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/08985629700000001
Google Scholar

LAWSON, T. (2003), ʽInstitutionalism: on the need to firm up notions of social structure and the human subjectʼ, Journal of Economic Issues, 37 (1), pp. 175–207. https://doi.org/10.1080/00213624.2003.11506562
Google Scholar

LAWTON SMITH, H., Sharmistha BAGCHI-SEN, S. and EDMUNDS, L. (2017), ‘Innovation cycles and geographies of innovation: a study of healthcare innovation in Europeʼ, European Urban and Regional Studies, 25 (4), pp. 405–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776417716220
Google Scholar

LILLES, A., RÕIGAS, K. and VARBLANE, U. (2020), ʽComparative View of the EU Regions by Their Potential of University-Industry Cooperationʼ, Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 11 (1), pp. 174–192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-018-0533-1
Google Scholar

MCCANN, P. and ORTEGA-ARGILÉS, R. (2016), ʽThe early experience of smart specialization implementation in EU cohesion policyʼ, European Planning Studies . https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2016.1166177
Google Scholar

MORGAN, K. and NAUWELAERS, C. (1999), Regional innovation strategies: The challenge for less favoured regions, 25, Psychology Press.
Google Scholar

MULLER, E., DOLOREUX, D., HERAUD, J., JAPPE, A. and ZENKER, A. (2008), ʽRegional innovation capacities in new member states: A typologyʼ, European Integration, 30 (5), pp. 653– 669. https://doi.org/10.1080/07036330802439624
Google Scholar

MUSCIO, A., REID, A. and LEON, L. R. (2015), ʽAn empirical test of the regional innovation para- dox: can smart specialisation overcome the paradox in Central and Eastern Europe?ʼ, Journal of Economic Policy Reform, 18 (2), pp. 153–171. https://doi.org/10.1080/17487870.2015.1013545
Google Scholar

NAVARRO, M., GIBAJA, J. J., BILBAO-OSORIO, B. and AGUADO, R. (2009), ʽPatterns of innovation in EU-25 regions: a typology and policy recommendationsʼ, Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 27 (5), pp. 815–840. https://doi.org/10.1068/c0884r
Google Scholar

OUGHTON, C., LANDABASO, M. and MORGAN, K. (2002), ʽThe regional innovation paradox: innovation policy and industrial policyʼ, The Journal of Technology Transfer, 27 (1), pp. 97–110. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013104805703
Google Scholar

PAPAMICHAIL, G. (2019), Implementation challenge of smart specialisation innovation strategies in catch-up regions: the role of institutions, governance and capacity building. era.ed.ac.uk. https://era.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/35616
Google Scholar

PAPAMICHAIL, G., ROSIELLO, A. and WIELD, D. (2019), ʽCapacity-building barriers to S3 implementation: an empirical framework for catch-up regionsʼ, Innovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research, 32 (1), pp. 66–84. https://doi.org/10.1080/13511610.2018.1537844
Google Scholar

PAVLOVA, I. and BURENINA, M. (2016), ʽUniversity-industry cooperation in the context of the regional innovation system in Russia: A case of the Tomsk regionʼ, Journal of Eastern Europe Research in Business and Economics. https://doi.org/10.5171/2016.623415
Google Scholar

RADOSEVIC, S. (1999), ʽTransformation of science and technology systems into systems of in- novation in central and eastern Europe: the emerging patterns and determinantsʼ, Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, 10 (3–4), pp. 277–320. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0954-349X(99)00016-8
Google Scholar

RADOSEVIC, S. (2017), ʽAssessing EU smart specialization policy in a comparative perspectiveʼ, [in:] Advances in the theory and practice of smart specialization, pp. 1–36, Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804137-6.00001-2
Google Scholar

RODRIGUES, C., DA ROSA PIRES, A. and DE CASTRO, E. (2001), ʽInnovative universities and regional institutional capacity building: The case of Aveiro, Portugalʼ, Industry and Higher Education, 15 (4), pp. 251–255. https://doi.org/10.5367/000000001101295740
Google Scholar

SEPPO, M., RÕIGAS, K. and VARBLANE, U. (2014), ʽGovernmental support measures for university – industry cooperation – Comparative view in Europeʼ, Journal of the Knowledge Economy, 5 (2), pp. 388–408. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13132-014-0193-8
Google Scholar

SMITH, L. H., BAGCHI-SEN, S. and EDMUNDS, L. (2018), ʽInnovation cycles and geographies of innovation: a study of healthcare innovation in Europeʼ, European Urban and Regional Studies, 25 (4), pp. 405–422. https://doi.org/10.1177/0969776417716220
Google Scholar

SOTARAUTA, M. and KOSONEN, K.-J. (2004), ʽStrategic adaptation to the knowledge economy in less favoured regions: a South Ostrobothnian University network as a case in pointʼ, Regional Economies as Knowledge Laboratories, pp. 1–19.
Google Scholar

TCHALAKOV, I., MITEV, T. and PETROV, V. (2010), ʽThe academic spin-offs as an engine of economic transition in Eastern Europe. A path-dependent approachʼ, Minerva, 48 (2), pp. 189–217. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11024-010-9149-8
Google Scholar

VALLANCE, P., BLAŽEK, J., EDWARDS, J. and KVĚTOŇ, V. (2018), ʽSmart specialisation in regions with less-developed research and innovation systems: A changing role for universities?ʼ, Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space, 36 (2), pp. 219–238. https://doi.org/10.1177/2399654417705137
Google Scholar