Evolution and Structure of Innovation Co-Creation Networks Between Universities and Industry

Abstract

Collaborative university-industry R&D is currently acknowledged as a key determinant of regional innovation. Several motivations to engage in such collaboration networks have been identified, either concerning industry partners—who seek to complement their knowledge-related resources and convert them into competitive factors—or academic partners—who find in these networks the opportunity to deal with real challenges, to create job opportunities for students and to ensure important sources of additional funding for basic research and teaching activities. This chapter studies the case of the Polytechnic of Leiria, characterising the recent evolution and structure of innovation co-creation networks established with industry in the last 12 years. A network analysis combining two different data sources revealed the dominant profile of partners with whom the Polytechnic of Leiria has interacted in co-promotion projects, in terms of the nature of the entity, size, sector of activity, international exposition, and geographical location.