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Assessing university-business collaborations for moderate innovators: Implications for university-led innovation policy evaluation

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  • Marra, Mita
  • Alfano, Vincenzo
  • Celentano, Roberto Michele

Abstract

The growing literature on University-Industry Collaborations (UICs) highlights how learning processes get unevenly located in space, within centers of innovative activity, where the local presence of research-oriented universities plays a crucial role. Through a mixed-methods approach, this article explores the firm-level drivers of innovation and the interactions between a sample of companies and the local university in a moderate innovation EU region. Findings highlight that firms' size, sector, leadership's commitment to digitalization, and collaborations with the university explain companies' innovative performance. The article contributes to the university's societal impact assessment and discusses the implications for university-led innovation for Smart Specialization.

Suggested Citation

  • Marra, Mita & Alfano, Vincenzo & Celentano, Roberto Michele, 2022. "Assessing university-business collaborations for moderate innovators: Implications for university-led innovation policy evaluation," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:epplan:v:95:y:2022:i:c:s0149718922001240
    DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102170
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    2. Marra, Mita, 2022. "Productive interactions in digital training partnerships: Lessons learned for regional development and university societal impact assessment," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    3. Mahrukh Aslam & Imran Shafi & Jamil Ahmad & Roberto Marcelo Alvarez & Yini Miró & Emmanuel Soriano Flores & Imran Ashraf, 2022. "An Analytical Framework for Innovation Determinants and Their Impact on Business Performance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-20, December.

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