Fachhochschulen im regionalen Innovationssystem. Eine Analyse auf Basis von Best-Practice-Fallstudien

Abstract

The interaction and networking among private firms and public research entities determine the innovative potential and performance of a region essentially. Cooperatively, these important members of regional innovation systems develop innovations and enhance knowledge diffusion. The impact of a higher education institution on a regional innovation system depends not only on the success of the research and development activities, but also on its network integration and interaction with other members in the regional innovation system. Based on these considerations, knowledge and technology transfer has become one of the strategic and operative core functions of higher education institutions, whereas mainly transfer forms with a high degree of university-industry cooperation shape the role of higher education institutions in the regional innovation system. Especially the application-oriented universities of applied sciences are required to disseminate and implement the gathered knowledge in their regional environment. The article examines the special role of universities of applied sciences in the regional innovation system and analyses university-side success factors of knowledge transfer on the basis of a best practice analysis. The research identifies strategic concepts relevant for successful transfer, furthermore operative policy recommendations were deducted that encourage cooperation between university and regional economy and knowledge transfer.