Drivers of University–Industry Links: The Case of Knowledge-Intensive Business Service Firms in Rural Locations

Abstract

The process of establishing collaborative links with university partners is potentially accompanied by uncertainties with respect to both the process and expected outputs. Partner selection is a difficult task influenced by a multitude of factors including location, geographic distance, compatibility of interests, shared understanding and prior experience of collaboration. Drawing on an analysis of Knowledge Intensive Business Service Firms (KIBS) firms located in predominantly rural districts of the UK, this paper examines the influences on partner selection when developing university links through knowledge transfer partnerships. The main focus of the paper is the extent to which geographic and organisational proximity influence the choice of university partner. The paper examines rural KIBS firms, which are generally less likely to be in close geographic proximity to a university. In the case of these firms, organisational proximity potentially has a strong role to play in partner selection. Indeed, the empirical analysis finds that both geographic and organisational proximity are significantly associated with partner choice, indicating that the formation of university-industry links are not only the result of locational factors, but also prior experience of collaboration. The findings indicate that partner choice is a complex process influenced by both geographic and organisational proximity, alongside university research prowess. The paper concludes by considering the policy implications of these findings and possible avenues for future research in this area

Universities, knowledge and regional development

“…She builds upon research on universities and knowledge-intensive business services as sources of regional innovation in peripheral regions (Pinto, Fernandez-Esquinas, & Uyarra, 2015) and rural locations (Johnston & Huggins, 2016). Pugh adopts a classic approach of stress-testing received wisdoms based on a few exemplar regions that get translated into policy orthodoxies portrayed as universal solutions.…”

The Spatio-Relational Nature of Urban Innovation Systems: Universities, Knowledge Intensive Business Service Firms, and Collaborative Networks

“…In terms of the broader services sector, while regarded as 'lighter' and more 'weightless' than manufacturing industries (Quah 1996;Coyle 1999), geographic proximity has also been demonstrated to be of importance to the formation of collaborative network links between firms in these sectors and universities (Johnston & Huggins, 2015). As such, while KIBS are regarded as important knowledge generators and facilitators of innovation within an urban innovation system, scholarly work in this area has largely examined the co-location of other firms with KIBS and is only now beginning to explore issues related to their relationship with other knowledge generators such as universities (Pinto et al 2013).…”

“…Thus, the characteristics of the university partner can also be important in moderating the uncertainty associated with establishing linkages as these provide clear signals as to the competences and capabilities of each institution (Johnston & Huggins, forthcoming. ;Johnston & Huggins 2015).…”

Open Innovation Capacity of the Polish Universities

“…According to Nelson and Winter (1982), relationships among businesses emerge, change or disappear due to the profile of the knowledge base, absorptive capacity or prestige of the actors involved. Finally, both geographic and organisational proximity are significantly associated with partner choice, indicating that the formation of university-industry links is the result not only of spatial factors but also of prior experience of collaboration (Johnston and Huggins 2016). As noted by Jonsson et al (2015a, b), open innovation and the triple-and the quadruple helix model's interactions do not occur automatically but require considerable efforts by the university management, including particular interaction-stimulating tools allowing a more targeted open innovation approach.…”