How technology‐based university research drives innovation in Europe and China

Abstract

Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to assess how technology-based university research drives innovation in Europe and China. Design/methodology/approach -This paper draws on extensive theoretical research and literature reviews, and presents a framework based on theories on networking, knowledge creation and innovation. It then introduces three European cases to illustrate practical applications of the framework, and also links the findings to three Chinese cases to make comparative observations as well as recommendations related to Triple Helix concepts and their implications in the China context. It addresses the issue of how learning from universities can enhance company flexibility and performance in innovation, and outlines three different models of collaboration. Findings -The framework and empirical research suggests that weak ties are useful for inspiration in exploration, but that strong industry-university (I-U) ties are required to support exploitation. This finding applies both to Europe and China in the industries covered. Originality/value -This paper provides a new theoretical rationale for I-U learning alliances as a natural way out from the managerial problem of trying to perform both exploration and exploitation within the same company boundaries. Through the theoretical framework, the academic science domain becomes a logical partner to handle the full phase of exploration and support the process of exploitation. The presented European cases of Bang & Olufsen, Combibloc and Porsche offer new insights into how to perform this act in practice, while the three China-related cases allow us to cross analyse empirical findings and draw initial conclusions with policy implications for China.

The transfer and creation of knowledge within foreign invested R&D in emerging markets

“…Process innovation seems to be the common denominator of the innovations presented in these case studies. Harryson et al (2008) hypothesized that process-oriented industries are less dependent on proximity. To some extent, their hypothesis is supported by the research presented in this paper, since the innovations presented in this paper take place in R&D organizations, which are global.…”

How transfer of R&D to emerging markets nurtures global innovation performance

“…This has caused many of the Western R&D centres in China to be quite reluctant to establish close interaction with local universities in China. Harryson et al (2008a) and Von summarise common barriers in this context:…”

“…Maskell et al (2007) describe offshore outsourcing as a sequence of stages towards innovation sourcing, which can best be described as a process of learning by doing. Harryson et al (2008a) explore how foreign R&D centres in China develop collaborative ties with local universities, but do not analyse how these links affect innovation performance.…”

Research and Innovation in Society: Contextualizing a Society Touch in the Academic Block in Tanzania

“…TH III is an extension to the first mode in that, the institutions can create zones of overlap beyond their core activities such as "universities creating an industrial penumbra, or performing a quasi-governmental role as a regional or local innovation organizer" (Leydesdorff & Etzkowitz, 1998, p. 197). With industrial penumbra it refers to universities, or their academic staff indulging in business to apply their innovations like the scenarios in China (Cai, 2014;Harryson & Kliknaite, 2008), and America (Harryson & Kliknaite, 2008). The TH I, II and III are summarized in Figure 1 below.…”