Jon Sundbo Professor (Business administration and innovation) Roskilde University , Denmark

1. University Industry Collaboration and the new role of universities –Are clusters the answer? Jon Sundbo Professor (Business administration and innovation) Roskilde University, Denmark

2. Aim of the paper • University industry collaboration: • Which problems does this create (particularly for universities)? • What is the best way to organize it? • Based on my own experiences and discussions (e.g. in the EU) • Focus on research • However, educational collaboration may face same advantages and problems

3. Why this focus on universities? • Universities’ role in society is up for discussion • The currentsocietalexpectationsmaychangeuniversitiesradically • Twoopposite positions: The Humbolt ideal shouldbedefended - and the Humbolt ideal is coming to an end • Theseoppositeexpectationscreatesconfusion and stress in the university system – particularlyamongyoung researchers • A third position maybeargued: The Humbolt and a new practice-oriented ideal maysupplyeachother (mode 2 research)

4. The third position – The University-Industry (UIC) Collaboration Why UICs can be useful to scientists • UICs can provide empirical data that might otherwise be difficult to obtain. • UIC can enhance cross-disciplinary research • One may find new basic knowledge issues in practical research and UIC • It is a personal satisfaction that somebody can use one’s research as it brings societal recognition • One may, as a researcher, find UIC enjoyable and socially beneficial • One should still maintain a certain amount of basic intellectual work load (i.e. such as writing articles). • New educational forms. University courses can be developed based on UIC.

5. The third position – The University-Industry (UIC) Collaboration Why UIC is useful to firms • This is obvious in certain cases such as the pharmaceutical, high tech manufacturing industries. • Business economics and administration research can also be useful to firms • A special problem is Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs), which are often owned and managed by entrepreneurs who are not academics. SMEs have difficulties in using scientific knowledge

6. The third position – The University-Industry (UIC) Collaboration Impediments • Industry’s self-sufficiency and in-ability to utilise research. • Entrepreneur networks can dissolve because of internal conflicts. • Researchers are often `introverts´ that is, oriented towards the university milieu, intellectualism and basic research, thus they have no interest in UIC. Some researchers may even be ideologically against UIC. • Conflicting expectations from the society. Society expects that researchers should do research that is useful for the society and participate in UIC. At the same time only awards teaching and basic research, typically published articles in international journals. • Universities do not get a budget for disseminating research results. • Firm’s disappointments can prevent researchers from further in-depth UIC.

7. Are clusters the answer ? • A cluster is an existing relation (e.g. industry, supply chain) relation system among firms • Cluster has been scientific recognized and a theory has been developed – great influence on industrial policy • Innovation networks (as in Denmark) are beneficial and efficient – and fit with the Humbolt unbiversity • EU (and others) aim at cluster organisations • Cluster organisations are in-optimal (one may argue)

8. Conclusion • The paper argues for a third standpoint • Innovation networks may be an ideal organisation of UIC • Clusters may be in-optimal