Universities as Knowledge Integrators and Cross-Industry Ecosystems: Self-Organizational Perspective

Abstract

Universities play a vital role in innovation ecosystems. Besides, their role is being transformed and reinforced due to the interdisciplinary nature of modern innovations and inter-sectoral collaboration in the process of implementing cross-industry projects. The article’s main objective is to reveal the emerging new goals, functions, and goals of university as knowledge integrator and consolidator within cross-industry ecosystem. The article introduces the approaches to the implementation of the cross-industry ecosystem integrator functions as an “entry point” for the creation of new ideas, competencies, technological solutions, and projects for the development and testing of new technologies. The research results are useful for academics and policy makers in emerging economies to adopt and consider, so as to improve the contribution of the universities to the country’s economic and innovation development.