University-industry collaboration

The innovation process requires frequent and iterative interactions among innovative actors, in which universities and private companies are central. For regional policymakers, university-industry collaboration is a key component of the regional innovation policy-mix as the successful exploitation of research and development results is fundamental for regional competitiveness.

The effective design and implementation of place-based innovation policies to limit market and system failures related to university-industry collaboration require excellent knowledge of the regional institutional context. The regional approach that must be taken to find effective policy solutions for university-industry collaboration makes Interreg Europe projects the ideal space for policy learning.

This policy brief features six policy recommendations using the experience of Interreg Europe projects dealing with university-industry collaboration to offer regions a path towards better regional innovation policymaking.