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Dylan Jones-Evans
Business Research Programme
University College of Dublin
| Blackrock County Dublin, Ireland | Tel. +353 1 706 8003 |
| Fax +353 1 706 8993 | |
| e-mail: dylan.jones-evans@blackrock.ucd.ie |
The objectives are to examine the growth and development of academic entrepreneurship within universities in the European Community (where academic entrepreneurship includes contract research, technical consultancy, patenting and licensing activities, as well as the creation of spin-off firms, by university staff). In particular, it will examine academic entrepreneurship in the context of regions at different stages of development, which will allow an examination to be made of the role of universities within different types of region, and a comparison with similar regions elsewhere. Three different 'types' of regions will be studied :
1. University in a rural region
2. University in traditional industrial region
3. University in 'growth' or economically prosperous region.
The study will try to provide answers to the following research questions:
- What is the role of academic entrepreneurship in the economic development of different types of regions in the EC ?
- What are the general policies for developing academic entrepreneurship in the peripheral regions of Europe ? Do these vary by region ?
- What are the process by which university-industry relationships are formed ? Do these vary by type of region, university and university-industry relationships ?
- Does the university environment and overall strategy of the university affect the development of academic entrepreneurship and university-industry relationships ?
Six workshops (Month 3,5; 7; 11,5; 15; 18,5; 22,5) and a final conference (Month 23,5) will be held to present cross country comparison reports and the final report.
The results are expected to lead to specific policy initiatives at regional, national and European level, aiming to improve the technology transfer from universities to small technology-based firms.
As the recent Green Paper on Innovation suggests, the European Union must be more effective at placing its technology-base at the service of industrial competitiveness and the needs of the market. In particular, it is recognised that one of the greatest challenges facing European firms is the comparatively limited capacity to convert scientific breakthroughs and technological achievements into industrial and commercial successes. As a result, there is growing awareness of the proactive approach being undertaken by academic institutions, with many adopting a direct entrepreneurial role in collaborating with industry. Such activities can include the licensing of patents to industry and the creation of spin-offs that are based on technology developed within university laboratories.
This report presents an examination of the process of technology transfer from universities to industry within seven different regions of Europe namely Ireland, Sweden, Portugal, Northern Ireland, Wales, Spain and Finland. Through a multi-methodological approach, the research was undertaken in five distinct phases:
This study has established a new and detailed picture of the state of academic entrepreneurship within the different regions of Europe. It has shown that academic entrepreneurship is a phenomenon that exists in a range of different institutional and regional settings, often having to overcome the same barriers for success in all countries. Most importantly, it has ascertained that there is a strong potential for developing increased university-industry linkages across Europe if the right institutional policies can be put into place. However, in terms of developing policy initiatives to establish closer academic-industry links, the role of the European Commission should be essentially as a facilitator. The study has demonstrated that for any initiative to succeed, it must take into account the local circumstances - for both university and the industrial partners. Policy instruments will only work if they are applied at the level of the institution, and if they reflect the strengths of the individual institutions and the needs of local (as well as international) industrial firms.
Final Report : - Abstract
As the recent Green Paper on Innovation suggests, the European Union must be more effective at placing its technology-base at the service of industrial competitiveness and the needs of the market. In particular, it is recognised that one of the greatest challenges facing European firms is the comparatively limited capacity to convert scientific breakthroughs and technological achievements into industrial and commercial successes. As a result, there is growing awareness of the proactive approach being undertaken by academic institutions, with many adopting a direct entrepreneurial role in collaborating with industry. Such activities can include the licensing of patents to industry and the creation of spin-offs that are based on technology developed within university laboratories.
This report presents an examination of the process of technology transfer from universities to industry within seven different regions of Europe namely Ireland, Sweden, Portugal, Northern Ireland, Wales, Spain and Finland. Through a multi-methodological approach, the research was undertaken in five distinct phases:
This study has established a new and detailed picture of the state of academic entrepreneurship within the different regions of Europe. It has shown that academic entrepreneurship is a phenomenon that exists in a range of different institutional and regional settings, often having to overcome the same barriers for success in all countries. Most importantly, it has ascertained that there is a strong potential for developing increased university-industry linkages across Europe if the right institutional policies can be put into place. However, in terms of developing policy initiatives to establish closer academic-industry links, the role of the European Commission should be essentially as a facilitator. The study has demonstrated that for any initiative to succeed, it must take into account the local circumstances - for both university and the industrial partners. Policy instruments will only work if they are applied at the level of the institution, and if they reflect the strengths of the individual institutions and the needs of local (as well as international) industrial firms.
Final Report: -Executive Summary
| Centre for Advanced Studies in the Social Sciences University of Wales College of Cardiff | United Kingdom | Prof. Philip Cooke |
| Centre for Executive Development - Ulster Business School University of Ulster |
United Kingdom | Prof. Richard Harrison |
| Business Research and Development Centre Turku School of Economics and Business Administration | Finland | Dr. Antti Paasio |
| Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship Linköping University | Sweden | Dr. Magnus Klofsten |
| Dept. of Applied Economics (Dept. de Economía Aplicada) University of the Basque Country (Universidad del País Vasco - Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea) |
Spain | Dr. Mikel Gómez |
| Dept. of Environment and planning (Depto. de Ambiente e Ordenamento) Universidade de Aveiro |
Portugal | Dr. Artur Rosa Pires |
| Duration | 24 months |
| Start date | 01/05/96 |
Academic entrepreneurship, contract research, technical consultancy, patenting, spin-off firms, regional economic development, peripheral regions, university-industry relationships
| EC responsible : | Virginia Vitorino |
| Tel.:+32-2-295 34 09 | |
| Fax:+32-2-296 21 37 | |
| e-mail : virginia.vitorino@ec.europa.eu |
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Do you have questions or comments (tser-secr@ec.europa.eu) Last modified on 23/10/98.