Overview

Exploring the process of university collaboration from the perspective of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this book offers an in-depth examination of the collaboration process, dispelling the myth of the disengagement of these firms. Andrew Johnston and Robert Huggins present a thorough account of how SMEs can “unlock the ivory tower” and gain access to university knowledge to support their own innovation. Outlining and discussing the intellectual roots of research in this field in an accessible way, the book focuses on SMEs to provide insight to an often overlooked group of firms. Chapters show how the closeness of the partners in terms of network membership, working culture and practice, and technical language drive the formation and function of these collaborative links, offering a holistic account of this from idea generation to the completion of projects. This will be an essential read for academics researching innovation and the role of universities, as well as knowledge exchange practitioners wishing to further their understanding of collaboration processes. Policymakers seeking to explore how and why SMEs engage in open innovation practices will also find this an invigorating book.

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9781789903379

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Reviews

‘Fostering university–industry collaboration has become an important concern for regional policymakers over recent decades in the context of the rise of systemic approaches to innovation and the evolution of university roles to integrate a “third mission” alongside their teaching and research functions. In focusing specifically on the relationship between universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this book by Andrew Johnston and Rob Huggins addresses a subset of university–industry collaboration that is underrepresented in the existing literature, but of key policy importance given the predominance of SMEs in regional economies. Indeed, in the context of societal challenges related to green, digital and demographic transitions that require more sophisticated cooperation within territorial innovation systems, there is a pressing need to understand the specific characteristics of effective collaborative relationships between academia and SMEs. The book is informed by empirical analysis that is in many ways specific to the UK context, and will therefore be of special interest to UK academics and policymakers.’ -- James R. Wilson, Regional Studies Journal ’This is a much needed book on university-industry collaboration. Compellingly, it is rooted in research on this topic, but it also develops the practical implications of how university-industry collaboration should be approached. A must-read for both researchers and practitioners in university-industry collaboration and technology transfer.’ -- - Markus Perkmann, Imperial College London, UK ‘This detailed study of university industry links focuses on the ways in which a diverse set of SMEs collaborate with universities. Often such studies emphasise particular technology sectors or high tech regions, but this book is refreshing in its study of varied SMEs across the UK, and draws out implications for all kinds of universities and places. Johnston and Huggins bring a detailed insight into university-industry links and the evolution of UK policy to develop important findings on the importance of proximity in future policy.’ -- - David Charles, Northumbria University, UK ‘This important new book highlights how SMEs working in tandem with universities can deliver an innovative impact way beyond their size. Through their penetrating analysis, Johnston and Huggins highlight a new strategy for cities and regions to ignite the innovative potential of SMEs through fostering key relationships with universities.’ -- - David B. Audretsch, Indiana University, US

‘Fostering university–industry collaboration has become an important concern for regional policymakers over recent decades in the context of the rise of systemic approaches to innovation and the evolution of university roles to integrate a “third mission” alongside their teaching and research functions. In focusing speci?cally on the relationship between universities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), this book by Andrew Johnston and Rob Huggins addresses a subset of university–industry collaboration that is underrepresented in the existing literature, but of key policy importance given the predominance of SMEs in regional economies. Indeed, in the context of societal challenges related to green, digital and demographic transitions that require more sophisticated cooperation within territorial innovation systems, there is a pressing need to understand the speci?c characteristics of effective collaborative relationships between academia and SMEs. The book is informed by empirical analysis that is in many ways speci?c to the UK context, and will therefore be of special interest to UK academics and policymakers.’ -- James R. Wilson, Regional Studies Journal ’This is a much needed book on university-industry collaboration. Compellingly, it is rooted in research on this topic, but it also develops the practical implications of how university-industry collaboration should be approached. A must-read for both researchers and practitioners in university-industry collaboration and technology transfer.’ -- - Markus Perkmann, Imperial College London, UK ‘This detailed study of university industry links focuses on the ways in which a diverse set of SMEs collaborate with universities. Often such studies emphasise particular technology sectors or high tech regions, but this book is refreshing in its study of varied SMEs across the UK, and draws out implications for all kinds of universities and places. Johnston and Huggins bring a detailed insight into university-industry links and the evolution of UK policy to develop important findings on the importance of proximity in future policy.’ -- - David Charles, Northumbria University, UK ‘This important new book highlights how SMEs working in tandem with universities can deliver an innovative impact way beyond their size. Through their penetrating analysis, Johnston and Huggins highlight a new strategy for cities and regions to ignite the innovative potential of SMEs through fostering key relationships with universities.’ -- - David B. Audretsch, Indiana University, US

'This important new book highlights how SMEs working in tandem with universities can deliver an innovative impact way beyond their size. Through their penetrating analysis, Johnston and Huggins highlight a new strategy for cities and regions to ignite the innovative potential of SMEs through fostering key relationships with universities.' -- David B. Audretsch, Indiana University, US

Author Information

Andrew Johnston, Professor of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, University of Huddersfield and Robert Huggins, Professor of Economic Geography and Director, Cities Research Centre, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK

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