The role of universities in regional innovation system development : an analysis of government policy and university-industry cooperative relationships in South Korea
Year: 2007
Type: dissertation
Abstract: This thesis is a theoretically grounded empirical study aimed at shedding light on the \ndynamic interactions of universities with government and industry in response to \nuniversity-industry cooperation policy in South Korea. It questions the loosely-based \nassumptions found in current literature relating to the role of universities in their \nengagement in regional innovative development, that universities may engage \nactively in localised interactive processes. This study uses the concept of RIS \n(Regional Innovation'System) as a conceptual framework to explore the relationships \nbetween theory, practice and policy. \nThe study analysed new university-industry cooperation policy in South Korea that \nhad been implemented after 2003 to promote RIS building. The empirical fieldwork \nwas completed in two administrative regions, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province and \nDaegu City, by the selection of four regional universities. \nIn order to identify the dynamic interactions of universities in response to the policy, \nthis research used a mixed methodology mainly based on qualitative interviews with \nacademics, government officers and firm managers. The Triple Helix Model was \nadopted to provide an analytical tool to study these responses. \nAnalysis of the empirical study reveals significant findings: first, the regional \nuniversities responded positively to the government policy, in terms of outward \nappearances, but their interactions with government and industry did not develop to \nthe degree of creating new relationships in the triple helix relations; second, therefore, \nit can be said that it is difficult to co-ordinate universities into the localised \ninteractive processes as a part of regional innovation strategies; and last, it seems that \nthe .' boundaries. for regional innovation system are determined through ongoing \ndynamic selective processes for maximising the benefits of each organisation. \n
Author: Nam Jae-Geol
Language: English
Subfield: Management of Technology and Innovation
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2596344988