Geographic proximity and university–industry interaction: the case of Mexico

Abstract

This paper analyses whether geographic proximity favours specific channels of university-industry interaction when firms collaborate with universities and with government research centres. Our study also provides insights regarding the relationship between the associated channel and the role of firms' absorptive capacities. Our results show that firms with higher levels of absorptive capacities tend to interact more independently of their location. Additionally, interaction with non-local universities generally includes the transfer of codified forms of knowledge, while links with local universities includes more tacit forms of knowledge. Policy implications derived from this analysis focus on fostering interaction at local and non-local levels.Keywords Geographic proximity Á University-industry interaction Á Research centres Á Systems of innovation Á Mexico JEL Classification C10 Á L25 Á L60 Á O18 Á O31 Á O32 Á O38 Á O54

Looking at both sides: how specific characteristics of academic research groups and firms affect the geographical distance of university–industry linkages

“…By contrast, recent studies show that firms often search for high-quality, geographically distant universities that can solve their innovation problems (D'Este & Iammarino, 2010;De Fuentes & Dutrénit, 2014;Laursen et al, 2011;Muscio, 2013). Thus, although geographical proximity is one factor that determines whether a firm will collaborate with academic partners in order to benefit from enhanced interactive learning through co-location, other factors may influence a firm's decision to collaborate with a certain university since the firm may require a broad set of academic capabilities to help solve its innovation problems (Bishop, D'Este, & Neely, 2011;D'Este et al, 2013).…”

“…In general, these studies have found empirical evidence of the presence of geographically bounded spillovers from academic research to industrial innovation (Anselin, Varga, & Acs, 1997;Arundel & Geuna, 2004;Audretsch & Feldman, 1996;D'Este & Iammarino, 2010;De Fuentes & Dutrénit, 2014;Jaffe, 1989;Laursen et al, 2011;Mansfield & Lee, 1996).…”

“…*Corresponding author. Email: renatogarcia@eco.unicamp.br Several studies show that the co-location of firms' research and development (R&D) staff and academic researchers engenders important benefits (Arundel & Geuna, 2004;Audretsch & Feldman, 1996;D'Este & Iammarino, 2010;De Fuentes & Dutrénit, 2014;Jaffe, 1989). However, recent analyses show that firms often prefer to collaborate with geographically close universities; but there are certain factors that can induce firms to collaborate with universities in geographically distant locations (D'Este & Iammarino, 2010;Laursen, Reichstein, & Salter, 2011;Muscio, 2013).…”

“…Previous studies provide important evidence related to this issue. However, an important research gap that requires deeper analysis remains, as evidence from previous studies is based on information about either universities (D'Este & Iammarino, 2010;Muscio, 2013) or firms (De Fuentes & Dutrénit, 2014;Laursen et al, 2011) only.…”

Relação entre dimensões da capacidade de absorção de empresas e “serviços” demandados na interação com universidades

“…Tal interação pode acontecer através de variados canais, formais ou informais. Os canais mais reconhecidos na literatura são: contratos conjuntos de P&D; mobilidade de recursos humanos (estudantes e acadêmicos); redes; difusão de informação através de publicações, conferências e internet; consultoria e treinamento; direito de propriedade; incubadoras e spin-offs (DE FUENTES;DUTRENIT, 2012).…”