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New perspectives on universities and regional development? A few reflections . Stefan Kuhlmann Science, Technology, and Policy Studies ( STePS ) . Personal Note of Caution.
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New perspectives on universities and regional development? A few reflections Stefan Kuhlmann Science, Technology, and Policy Studies (STePS) S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012
Personal Note of Caution S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 • Background in Political Science and History: Focus on governance of science, technology and innovation – as social processes • Neither a Regional Studies nor a HEI Policy Studies scholar … • … yet involved in or in close contact with both fields, via collaborative research projects, joint publication efforts, overlapping scholarly communities, e.g. • as editor of Research Policy • Initiatives and events of the Eu-SPRI Forum (European Forum for Studies of Policies for Research and Innovation)
Universitiesandregionaldevelopment– a new theme? A pressing theme? Twente University (UT), established in 1961, entrepreneurial spirit, committed to making an economic and social contribution to Twente, a European region shaped by international textile industry in a rural context, since 19th century. S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012
New theme?‘University’ and ‘Region’ in Research Policy S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 • About one third of all articles published in Research Policy since 1971 contain ‘university’ and ‘region’ • 1,012articles found for: ALL (region) and university • 968 articles found for: ALL (University-industry) and region • Starting in 1970s, e.g. Clark, Norman G (1972): Science, technology and regional economic development, Research Policy, Vol1, 3, 297–319;Inhaber, Herbert (1974): Scientific cities, Research Policy, Vol 3, 2, 182-200.
Lasting issue: University-Industry Relations andAcademicEngagement X) See also: Kuhlmann, S. et al. (1991): The University-Industry and Research-Industry Interfaces in Europe. A study carried out on behalf of the Commission of the European Communities, Luxembourg 1991 (Office for Official Publications of the European Communities, EUR 13204) S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 • Perkmann, M., et al. (2012): Academic engagement and commercialisation: A review of the literature on university–industry relations.Research Policy , http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.09.007: • Mertonian sociology of science underestimates diversity of institutional orders within international higher education and public R&D • Essential that firms be well-equipped to effectively participate in collaboration • Lack of understanding about consequences of academic engagement • TTO (policymakers darling) are less adept at fostering academic engagement (x)
Longstanding History of Higher Education and Research in Service of Economy and Society S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 Examples: • "Écolepolytechnique" in France (1794), other “GrandesÉcoles” • Technical colleges/universities in Germany (Braunschweig 1745; Karlsruhe 1825; Munich1868; Aachen 1870; Berlin 1879; others) • “Royal Academy for the education of civilian engineers, for serving both nation and industry, and of apprentices for trade” in Delft, NL (1842); Polytechnic School of Delft (1864) • Land-grant universities in US (1862+) focusing on teaching of practical agriculture, science and engineering (Rutgers; Michigan State; UCLA; Cornell; MIT; more than 100) • Economic and societal mission (see F. List, 1856) • Normally strong regional outreach (and beyond)
New Emphasissince 1980s S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 Piore & Sabel(1984), The Second Industrial Divide Cohen & Levinthal(1990): Absorptive Capacity Etzkowitz& Leydesdorff(1995): The triple helix–university–industry–government relations Slaughter & Leslie (1997): Academic Capitalism: Politics, Policies, and the Entrepreneurial University Cooke et al (1997): Regionalinnovationsystems Etzkowitz& Leydesdorff(2000): From National Systems and “Mode 2” to Triple Helix Muller & Zenker(2001): KIBS Charles (2003): Universities and Territorial Development Benneworth& Charles (2005): University spin-off policies in less successful regions
Universities and regional development – a new/relevant theme in 2012? S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 • Preaching the ‘Third Mission’ of HEI and praising their socio-economic impact on regional development has turned into an ‘industry’, see e.g. ‘Triple Helix Conferences’ • Academic discourses in silos: • Economics and Innovation Studies: in search of effective university-industry collaboration (for almost half a century now) • Urban and Regional Studies: Smart Cities, … • STS: Science in/for Society; Public Understanding of Science; ELSA; Technology Assessment
2012+ – What is a ‘University’? S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 • Educationfor the masses: 30 – 50 % of agegroupsattendingHEI • ICT and web-basedcommunicationandeducation • Academicresearch andknowledgeproduction in HEI? • Research vs teaching universities– autonomyandcreativity?– role in region? • High-techvs traditional sciencesvslocalknowledgeneeds • University research vs non-academicknowledgeproduction • Global mobility of highlyskilledresearchers – regional impact? • HEI austeritypolicies (in Europe); New Public Management – effects? • What do we meanby ‘University?
2012+ – Regional Knowledge Production? S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 • Beyond HEI • Incumbent regional industry (Piore & Sabel 1984) • Creative industries • Grassroot and ‘user’ innovation movements • HackerSpaces; FabLabs (e.g. LivingLabs) • ‘Green producers’ • Social innovation initiatives • Smart Cities • E.g. ‘Copenhagenisation’
Coping with New Actors and Interests Patient associations influence research agendas and engage in research themselves, undermining the exclusive rights of scientists Technology Assessment, Ethical, Legal & Social Aspects surround ongoing science and technology (Human Genome Project initiated this) Outreach,public engagement – feedback into research agendas? (ex. interactive TA of GM crop) Also consultancies (and NGOs) bridging science and the economy, science and the community Authority over science (knowledge production) is also claimed by non-scientists (from USA Congressmen to patients and indigenous people); counter-authority is not the answer. S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012
Framework Conditions Financial environment; taxation and incentives; propensity to innovation and entrepreneurship; mobility ... Demand Consumers (final demand) Producers (intermediate demand) Co-evolution Education and Research System PoliticalConditions Regional Economy Inter-mediaries Research institutes, KIBS Manufacturing Professional education and training Regional Government Higher education and research Knowledge policies Services New, technology- based firms Public sector research De facto Governance Infrastructure Health Services Innovation and business support Cultural Services Trans-portation NeedforSystemicHeuristicon UniversitiesandRegional Development Spaces for experimen-tation The potential reachof public policies ... S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 Source: Kuhlmann & Arnold 2001
UniversitiesandRegionalDevelopment beyond OECD S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 Startling dynamics in a number of countries, in particular regions Growth, investment – yet lasting/increasing inequality Governance of regional innovation for social inclusion?
Summing up S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 Region/city was and is a crucialsocialentitydetermining well-being, sounderstanding of knowledge-baseddevelopment & governance is important Overcomedisciplinaryossification of studies into universities and regional development Apply institutional, systemic, dynamic research heuristics Understand changing HEI (size, mission, governance) Include non-codified (infant, informal) sources of knowledgeandinnovation Exploreexperimentalandlearning modes of governance Think and explore with a long-term perspective, both local and global
References S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 • Benneworth, P & Charles, D (2005): University spin-off policies and economic development in Less successful regions: Learning from two decades of policy practice, European Planning Studies, Vol 13, 4, 537-557 • Charles, D (2003): Universities and Territorial Development: Reshaping the Regional Role of UK Universities, Local Economy, Vol. 18,1 ,7-20 • Cohen, WM & Levinthal, DA (1990): Absorptive Capacity: A New Perspective on Learning and Innovation, Administrative Science Quarterly, Vol. 35, No. 1, Special Issue: Technology, Organizations, and Innovation,128-152 • Cooke, P & Uranga, MG, Etxebarria, G (1997): Regional innovation systems: Institutional and organisational dimensions, Research Policy, Vol 26, 4–5, 475-491 • Etzkowitz, H & Leydesdorff, L (1995): The triple helix–university–industry–government relations: a laboratory for knowledge-based economic development, EASST Review, 14 (1), pp. 14–19 • Etzkowitz. H & Leydesdorff, L (2000): The dynamics of innovation: from National Systems and “Mode 2” to a Triple Helix of university–industry–government relations. Research Policy, Vol 29, 2, 109-123 • List, F (1856): National System of Political Economy, Philadelphia (J. B. Lippincott & Company) • MJ Piore, MJ & CF Sabel, CF (1984): The Second Industrial Divide: Possibilities for Prosperity. New York (Basic Books) • Muller, E & Zenker, A (2001): Business services as actors of knowledge transformation: the role of KIBS in regional and national innovation systems, Research Policy, Vol 30, 9, 1501-1516 • Slaughter, S & Larry L. (1997): Academic Capitalism: Politics, Policies, and the Entrepreneurial University. Baltimore (Johns Hopkins University Press)
Summing up S Kuhlmann | University and Region | CHEPS Conference Oct 2012 Region/city was and is a crucialsocialentitydetermining well-being, sounderstanding of knowledge-baseddevelopment & governance is important Overcomedisciplinaryossification of studies into universities and regional development Apply institutional, systemic, dynamic research heuristics Understand changing HEI (size, mission, governance) Include non-codified (infant, informal) sources of knowledgeandinnovation Exploreexperimentalandlearning modes of governance Think and explore with a long-term perspective, both local and global