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Innovation performance in traditional industries: Does proximity to universities matter

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  • Iacobucci, Donato
  • Perugini, Francesco

Abstract

Firms operating in traditional industries are characterized by low investment in R&D and little capabilities for autonomous innovation. This situation is changing given the increasing relevance of general purpose technologies, such as ICT. As a result, the innovative performance of firms in these sectors should be more dependent on the interaction with firms and institutions outside their production chain. The aim of this paper is to analyze to what extent the proximity to universities affects firms' capability to innovate as opposed to the other characteristics of the local context, such as specialization or variety, which motivated firms' location choice. The analysis focuses on Italian firms in traditional industries: agri-food, textile and clothing, leather and footwear. The empirical evidence suggests that the local context still plays a relevant role for the innovative performance of traditional firms while proximity to a university is not always statistically significant.

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  • Iacobucci, Donato & Perugini, Francesco, 2023. "Innovation performance in traditional industries: Does proximity to universities matter," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:tefoso:v:189:y:2023:i:c:s0040162523000252
    DOI: 10.1016/j.techfore.2023.122340
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    3. Naga, Nahla & Amghar, Meryem, 2024. "Collaboration Between University and Industry in Algeria: Beyond Geographical Proximity. Case Study of University Research Laboratories in Algeria," Economic and Regional Studies (Studia Ekonomiczne i Regionalne), John Paul II University of Applied Sciences in Biala Podlaska, vol. 17(04), January.
    4. Rossi, Federica & De Silva, Muthu & Pavone, Pasquale & Rosli, Ainurul & Yip, Nick K.T., 2024. "Proximity and impact of university-industry collaborations. A topic detection analysis of impact reports," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    5. Tanweer, Syeda Zainab & Shah, Muhammad Saud & Nabi, Agha Ammad & Mukhi, Aftab Ali & Ahad, Muhammad, 2023. "Accelerating Growth: Unleashing the Power of Accelerator Programs as Strategic Investments for Startups in Pakistan," MPRA Paper 117474, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 28 May 2023.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    University knowledge spillovers; Traditional industries; Innovation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • L67 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Manufacturing - - - Other Consumer Nondurables: Clothing, Textiles, Shoes, and Leather Goods; Household Goods; Sports Equipment
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • R1 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - General Regional Economics

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