Geographic proximity and firm-university innovation linkages: evidence from Great Britain

Abstract

We investigate evidence for spatially mediated knowledge transfer from university research. We examine whether firms locate their R&D labs in proximity to university research departments, and whether those that do are more likely to co-operate with, or source information from universities in the course of their innovative activities. We find evidence that pharmaceutical firms locate their R&D facilities near to frontier chemistry research departments, consistent with accessing localised knowledge spillovers, but also linked to the presence of science parks. In industries such as chemicals and vehicles there is less evidence of immediate co-location with universities, but those innovative firms that do locate near to relevant research departments are more likely to engage with universities.

Global engagement in R&D: a portrait of biopharmaceutical patenting firms

“…in Abramovsky et al (2007) and Abramovsky and Simpson (2011) and in Belderbos et al (2011). Having said that, the sign of the coefficient on academic research in pharmaceuticals and chemistry is positive, as in other studies.…”

“…The pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry is the top R&D investor, accounting for almost 20% of R&D spending of these 2000 firms, 6 and a similar share of total R&D spending by firms in EU. Firms operating in that industry exhibit a higher R&D intensity relative to other industries and 1 For a brief revision of the motivations driving R&D location decisions and collaboration for innovation see, for instance, Abramovsky et al (2007) and Abramovsky and Simpson (2011).…”

Academic collaborations and firm innovation performance in China: The role of region-specific institutions

“…Indeed, Hong (2008) finds a strong localizing trend in knowledge flows from universities to firms in China. Abramovsky and Simpson (2011) suggest that UK chemical firms tend to collaborate with universities that are within a 10km radius. Similarly, Hong and Su (2013) using Chinese patents demonstrate that geographic distance impedes firm-university collaborations.…”

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

“…For example, geographic proximity to universities has been shown to influence firm location for knowledge intensive manufacturing sectors (Abramovsky & Simpson 2011). 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).…”