Regional Innovation
Anders Malmberg,
Professor of Economic Geography
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Uppsala University
Coimbra Group High-level Seminar
“Horizons 2015: First Experiences, Emerging Expectations”
San Servolo, 30-31 October 2014
Panel on Cohesion and Regional Innovation
Outline
• Innovations processes in general
• Why universities should engage in innovation
support and strategic collaboration
• A few examples of Uppsala University
activities in this area
Innovation: General Characteristics
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Basic driver of long-term competitiveness
Broad definition: novelty taken into use
New combinations: 1 + 1 = 3
Interactive approach: networks, competence blocs,
innovation systems
• Spatial proximity: clustering, creative milieus,
dynamic cities, innovative regions
Innovative settings/mileus
• Drivers: Sophisticated demand, Rivalry, Structural
Instability, Incentive structures
• Prerequisites: Knowledge infrastructure and actors with
complementary skills (e.g. inventors, innovators,
entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, industrialists)
• Openness: Exposure to the outside world, inflows of
ideas and competences
Why should a research university
invest in collaboration and innovation?
• Main means for contributing to society
• Research and education develop through
exposure to challenging problems in industry
and society
• No conflict between basic (”curiosity-driven”)
and applied (”demand- or challenge-driven”)
research
• The Knowledge Triangle: education,
research and innovation are strongly related
Uppsala University
• Support for commercialization through spin-offs
• Patenting, verification
• Incubator support, UU Holding Company
• Support for utilization through strategic collaboration
• Organizational and individual incentives
• Enhance mobility
• Platforms for interaction
Prime example:
AIM-day – Connecting firms and researchers
www.aimday.se
AIMday® – this is how it works
15-60 questions
20-140
10-50 companies/organizations
scientists/scholars
10-90 company representatives
10-50 workshops
Some 30 AIMdays® since 2008
(across Sweden and beyond)
Material
Image analysis
Public Management
Cancer
Diabetes
Ageing
Diagnostics & biomarkers
CNS Disorders
Religion
Energy
Typical evaluation result
”I established new contacts”
- Industry representative 98%
- Scientist/scholar 92%
”I learnt new things in the discussion”
- Industry representative 98%
- Scientist/scholar 95%
”I will return to AIMday”
- Industry representative 91%
- Scientist/scholar 93%
Conclusion: to play a role in a creative
economy, the comprehensive
research university needs …
… a broad approach to innovation: technological,
organizational and social
… to foster new combinations of knowledge
bases and resources across internal and external
boundaries,
… to defend academic freedom, values and
integrity while being extremely open to dialogue
with industry and society (”good fences make
good neighbours”)