The Role the University Could Play in an Inclusive Regional Innovation System

Wei Yao,Mosi Weng,Heng Li

doi:10.1186/s40604-018-0058-4

Abstract

Extant research shows that universities do not usually foster an inclusive innovation system. This paper examines an innovation program at Zhejiang University that targeted rural areas in China, and that sought to promote an inclusive innovation system. This case illuminates how universities could play a critical role in configuring inclusive regional innovation systems by means of selection, improvement and diffusion of technology, dissemination and absorption of knowledge, access to science and technology, intermediation between the actors of innovation, training skilled labor, and cultivating talent. We underscore how the inclusive innovation program of Zhejiang University allowed this university to help realize the enormous consumption, production, and entrepreneurial potential of low-income households in rural China.

Highlights

Promoting the economic prosperity and abolishing poverty of the developing countries are the purpose of inclusive growth which guided by the idea of “building a community with a shared future for mankind.” besides the poor infrastructure and weak industrial supply chains, the bottleneck for developing economies is education especially higher education, the innovation capability
According to the system framework of university involved in regional inclusive innovation and the case study of Zhejiang University, our research divides the role of university in inclusive innovation into four categories: first, product/service designer; second, technology promoter; third, practice/service provider; and fourth, innovation leader
Product/service designer Product/service designer refer to the universities that implement inclusive innovation under the dimensions of “Relationship” and “Research.” The university should fully understand the needs of base of the pyramid (BoP) groups, and focus on a specific need, such as lower-cost heating need, health care need under frequent power outages, and so on

Summary

Introduction

Promoting the economic prosperity and abolishing poverty of the developing countries are the purpose of inclusive growth which guided by the idea of “building a community with a shared future for mankind.” besides the poor infrastructure and weak industrial supply chains, the bottleneck for developing economies is education especially higher education, the innovation capability. This article will discuss the roles and functions of Zhejiang University in regional inclusive innovation from four dimensions, which are relationship, research, education, and entrepreneurship.

Results

Conclusion