TY - JOUR
T1 - The Economic and Innovation Contribution of Universities
T2 - A Regional Perspective
AU - Huggins, Robert
AU - Johnston, Andrew
PY - 2009/12/1
Y1 - 2009/12/1
N2 - Universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs) have come to be regarded as key sources of knowledge utilisable in the pursuit of economic growth. Although there have been numerous studies assessing the economic and innovation impact of HEIs, there has been little systematic analysis of differences in the relative contribution of HEIs across regions. With this paper we provide an exploration of some of these differences in the context of the UK's regions. Significant differences are found in the wealth generated by universities according to regional location and type of institution. Universities in more competitive regions are generally more productive than those located in less competitive regions. Also, traditional universities are generally more productive than their newer counterparts, with university productivity positively related to knowledge commercialisation capabilities. Weaker regions tend to be more dependent on their universities for income and innovation, but often these universities underperform in comparison with counterpart institutions in more competitive regions. We argue that uncompetitive regions lack the additional knowledge infrastructure, besides universities, which is more commonly a feature of competitive regions.
AB - Universities and other higher education institutions (HEIs) have come to be regarded as key sources of knowledge utilisable in the pursuit of economic growth. Although there have been numerous studies assessing the economic and innovation impact of HEIs, there has been little systematic analysis of differences in the relative contribution of HEIs across regions. With this paper we provide an exploration of some of these differences in the context of the UK's regions. Significant differences are found in the wealth generated by universities according to regional location and type of institution. Universities in more competitive regions are generally more productive than those located in less competitive regions. Also, traditional universities are generally more productive than their newer counterparts, with university productivity positively related to knowledge commercialisation capabilities. Weaker regions tend to be more dependent on their universities for income and innovation, but often these universities underperform in comparison with counterpart institutions in more competitive regions. We argue that uncompetitive regions lack the additional knowledge infrastructure, besides universities, which is more commonly a feature of competitive regions.
KW - Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
KW - Eonomic growth
KW - Knowledge commercialisation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=70849088994&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1068/c08125b
DO - 10.1068/c08125b
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:70849088994
VL - 27
SP - 1088
EP - 1106
JO - Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space
JF - Environment and Planning C: Politics and Space
SN - 2399-6544
IS - 6
ER -