University-Firm Linkages as Drivers of Innovation, 2011

The project "University-Firm Linkages as Drivers of Innovation, 2011" is based on the need for a more precise understanding of the role of research and innovation in firms and organizations, including how political and economic priorities and regulations impact actors and outcomes in the research and innovation system. Consequently the focus was on the interaction between universities and innovating firms. The vigor and dynamism of regional and national economies depend on the ability of firms to adapt to changing markets and technologies by continually introducing profitable products, services, production processes and business models. The outcome depends on the capabilities of firms to take up new knowledge and apply it effectively. This project focused on the contributions made by universities to those capabilities. The project first made in-depth studies of the ambitions and strategies of universities to enhance the innovation capabilities of firms and institutions to enable them to compete globally. Four Norwegian universities were studied in a Nordic and international comparative context. The aim was to develop concepts and categories to understand where in the innovation process, why and how linkages to research and universities are pertinent. IRIS recently carried out comprehensive surveys on how firms collaborate and innovate, with novel and sometimes paradoxical findings. The in-depth studies in this project were aimed at solving these paradoxes to offer robust recommendations to firms, universities and policy makers.