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How Technology-Based University Research Drives Innovation in Europe and China – Leveraging the Power of Proximity

Harryson, Sigvald J LU ; Kliknaite, Sandra LU and Von Zedtwich, Max (2008) In Journal of Technology Management in China 3(1). p.12-46
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... (More)
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. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to specialist publication or newspaper
publication status
published
subject
keywords
China, Knowledge creation, Innovation, Research, Networking, Universities
categories
Popular Science
in
Journal of Technology Management in China
volume
3
issue
1
pages
12 - 46
publisher
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
ISSN
1746-8787
DOI
10.1108/17468770810851485
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
318ff3bb-61a4-44a3-9966-ff2e9aff6d5b (old id 1729650)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:46:47
date last changed
2018-11-21 20:30:05
@misc{318ff3bb-61a4-44a3-9966-ff2e9aff6d5b,
  abstract     = {{Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess how technology-based university research drives <br/><br>
innovation in Europe and China. <br/><br>
Design/methodology/approach – This paper draws on extensive theoretical research and <br/><br>
literature reviews, and presents a framework based on theories on networking, knowledge creation <br/><br>
and innovation. It then introduces three European cases to illustrate practical applications of the <br/><br>
framework, and also links the findings to three Chinese cases to make comparative observations as <br/><br>
well as recommendations related to Triple Helix concepts and their implications in the China context. <br/><br>
It addresses the issue of how learning from universities can enhance company flexibility and <br/><br>
performance in innovation, and outlines three different models of collaboration. <br/><br>
Findings – The framework and empirical research suggests that weak ties are useful for inspiration <br/><br>
in exploration, but that strong industry-university (I-U) ties are required to support exploitation. This <br/><br>
finding applies both to Europe and China in the industries covered. <br/><br>
Originality/value – This paper provides a new theoretical rationale for I-U learning alliances as a <br/><br>
natural way out from the managerial problem of trying to perform both exploration and exploitation <br/><br>
within the same company boundaries. Through the theoretical framework, the academic science <br/><br>
domain becomes a logical partner to handle the full phase of exploration and support the process of <br/><br>
exploitation. The presented European cases of Bang &amp; Olufsen, Combibloc and Porsche offer new <br/><br>
insights into how to perform this act in practice, while the three China-related cases allow us to cross <br/><br>
analyse empirical findings and draw initial conclusions with policy implications for China.}},
  author       = {{Harryson, Sigvald J and Kliknaite, Sandra and Von Zedtwich, Max}},
  issn         = {{1746-8787}},
  keywords     = {{China; Knowledge creation; Innovation; Research; Networking; Universities}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{12--46}},
  publisher    = {{Emerald Group Publishing Limited}},
  series       = {{Journal of Technology Management in China}},
  title        = {{How Technology-Based University Research Drives Innovation in Europe and China – Leveraging the Power of Proximity}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17468770810851485}},
  doi          = {{10.1108/17468770810851485}},
  volume       = {{3}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}