Innovation effects of universities of applied sciences: an assessment of regional heterogeneity

Abstract

The literature on the economics of science and technology shows that academic universities—institutions focusing on basic research—positively affect innovation activities in regional economies. Less is known about the innovation effects of universities of applied sciences (UASs)—bachelor-granting three-year colleges teaching and conducting applied research. Furthermore, the evidence for positive innovation effects is predominantly based on average effects, while heterogeneity in innovation effects due to the economic environment is far less considered. By exploiting a public policy development in Switzerland that led to the quasi-random establishment of UASs, we investigate the regional heterogeneity in innovation effects of these UASs. We rely on patent and business census data and analyze the influence and importance of three economic preconditions—labor market size, labor market density and high tech intensity—on innovation effects of UASs. Our results show that only regions with a large or a dense enough labor market or with an above average high tech intensity experience significant innovation effects of UASs. Comparing the relative importance of the three economic preconditions, we find that labor market size is the most important factor that drives heterogeneity in innovation effects of UASs.

Nonlinear System Simulation and Forecasting of Regional Technology Innovation Using System Dynamics Method

“…The degree of learning effect is affected by the KAC of this region. A better absorption capacity can make imitation translate into innovation more quickly in the learning process [3,5,27,28]. Causal loop 2 is a positive feedback loop, which reflects the continuous increase of regional R&D investment and accumulation of knowledge.…”

“…Current research on regional technology innovation (RTI) can involve many aspects [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. Literatures indicate that RTI is a system which contains complex causal connections and effects.…”

The role of productive university in supporting the budget and educational process development

“…The importance of this is derived from the need of governments in their various political systems to reverse their philosophy of governance and the development of society in all economic and service fields. This document is no longer merely a list of figures that are deaf, but numbers that meet specific goals that are planned in advance (Lee, 2020;Msallam et al, 2020;Schlegel et al, 2021).…”

“…The performance budget is defined as the budget tab which focuses on the actions of the government and not on the items and items purchased. Thus, the performance balance shifts from the means of doing the work to the work itself (Msallam et al, 2020;Schlegel et al, 2021).…”

“…2 -Reducing the total dependence on the operational budgets in the institutions of higher education. 3 -Statement of the contribution of the productive university in the development of the learning process and society (Kibe et al, 2020;Schlegel et al, 2021).…”