Universities, knowledge networks, and regional competitiveness: perspectives from the UK

Zhang, Qiantao ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4450-5775 2015. Universities, knowledge networks, and regional competitiveness: perspectives from the UK. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

As the need for regions to convert knowledge within universities into industrial and commercial success is increasingly acknowledged in the knowledge-based economy, universities are no longer considered to be isolated islands of knowledge, but as institutions increasingly engaged with a range of external partners through various types of knowledge networks. Although studies have examined the importance of interactions between academics and businesses in building competitive advantages of regions, there has been much less work considering how the nature of interactions is associated with regional competitiveness. This research explores these issues through a study of the network relationships between universities and businesses in the context of the UK, where uneven regional economic development has long been a feature of the economy. By adopting a critical realist paradigm and employing both qualitative and quantitative methods, this research reveals both ‘what’ knowledge exchange activities are engaged by universities and ‘how’ the intensity and performance of those activities are associated with regional competitiveness. National findings suggest that universities in more competitive regions generate higher income from engaging in knowledge exchange activities than those in uncompetitive areas. However, academics in uncompetitive regions are more actively engaged in knowledge exchange activities than their counterparts in competitive areas. It is also found that the intensity of firm-level interaction with universities is associated with the regional location of firms, especially in the case of smaller firms. In particular, firms located within relatively economically competitive regions tend to be more positively engaged with the use of academic knowledge. Firms in uncompetitive regions have lower levels of demand for academic knowledge, even though there is often sufficient supply. Overall, the study indicates that the competitiveness of regions in the UK is positively associated with a strong demand from businesses for knowledge generated by universities. The complexity of the knowledge exchange process is further highlighted in case studies of university initiatives, which show that universities engage with businesses in a diverse spectrum even at the regional level. It is concluded that future policy intervention targeted at fostering university-industry interactions needs to more fully acknowledge territorial patterns of knowledge exchange.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > G Geography (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Universities; Knowledge Networks; Regional Competitiveness; UK; Regions; Firms; University-Business Interactions; Knowledge Exchange; Government Funding; Policy
Funders:	NESTA
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	30 March 2016
Last Modified:	28 Oct 2022 10:26
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/78321

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