Wolfgang Becker
Evaluation of the Role of Universities in the Innovation Process
Abstract:
The aim of the paper is to evaluate the role of universities in the
innovation process. Against the background of theoretical
considerations
about the interrelation of innovation and the adaptation of external
resources,
the effects of university-based (knowledge) resources – together with
other
exogenous variables – on the innovation input and output of firms
in
the German manufacturing industry are empirically investigated and
evaluated.
The estimation results on the innovation input side can be summarized
as
follows: High assessments to university-based resources and joint
R&D
with universities increase the probability that firms are engaged in
the
development of new products and technologies. Further, the estimations
point
out stimulating effects of science-related resources on the level of
in-house
R&D. In general, resources stemming from universities are used as
complements
in the German manufacturing industry. In-house capacities can be
expanded
with positive impacts on the probability and the level of R&D
activities.
The estimation results for the innovation output side are ambiguous: On
the
one hand, empirical evidence of enhancing impacts of resources stemming
from
universities on the realization of process innovations has been found.
This
strengthens the assumption that science-related resources are used to
optimize
production processes and to save production costs. On the other hand,
external
resources from the academic sphere have no stimulating effects on the
probability
of realizing product innovations. University-based resources stimulate
the
development of new products more indirectly by increasing in-house
capacities
and enhancing R&D efficiency. But finally, the empirical analysis
point
out positive impacts of joint R&D with universities on the
realization
of product innovations. Obviously, collaboration in R&D with
universities
offer possibilities of efficient knowledge transfer, resource exchange
and
organizational learning.
JEL: O31, I20, L20, L60
Paper:
Paper available as pdf-file.
Beitrag Nr. 241, Volkswirtschaftliche Diskussionsreihe, Institut
für Volkswirtschaftslehre der Universität Augsburg
Contact:
Wolfgang
Becker, University of Augsburg, Department of Economics,
Universitätsstr. 16, D-86159 Augsburg, Phone +49-821-598-4207; Fax
+49-821-598-4200
E-Mail: wolfgang.becker@wiwi.uni-augsburg.de
v.
K., 09.07.2003