Abstract
Abstract Our study contributes to a limited body of literature and aims to examine the type and frequency of linkages between creative industries and higher education institutions (HEIs). The objective of our study is to investigate the extent to which various types of linkages contribute to enhanced innovative capabilities in creative industries. Based on a qualitative research design and a case study carried out in a peripheral south-western Norwegian county, our empirical analysis shows that HEIs are generally not very relevant partners and that other actors are mainly involved in innovation dynamics. As clarified and discussed in the paper, this finding largely depends on some specific characteristics of HEIs, the form of knowledge primarily employed by creative firms (symbolic knowledge base), and the cultural divergence between the two spheres.
Highlights
Higher education institutions (HEIs), such as universities and research centres, are important to local economies as such institutions serve as sources of local employment and produce skilled workforces and new knowledge
This study aims to determine the frequency of interactions between creative firms and higher education institutions (HEIs), the main opportunities and impediments affecting such linkages, and how interactions with HEIs influence the innovative capabilities of creative firms
Our findings suggest that the categories of linkages used in studies of manufacturing industries do not apply to creative industries, and that knowledge transfer from HEIs to firms in creative industries is fairly limited, which may in turn hamper the strengthening of competitive advantages in these industries
Summary
Higher education institutions (HEIs), such as universities and research centres, are important to local economies as such institutions serve as sources of local employment and produce skilled workforces and new knowledge. HEIs are important nodes in distributed innovation surroundings. In addition to educating students and conducting basic research, HEIs may offer vital support to firms in their innovation processes (Cohen, Levinthal 1990; Chesbrough 2006). HEIs may be more prone to innovate (Kaufmann, Tödtling 2001; George et al 2002). Research on the linkages between HEIs and firms has primarily concentrated on technological development in high-tech sectors and large enterprises. Only a few studies have explored knowledge transfer and exchange between HEIs and creative industries
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