Tanja Sinozic

The Role of Universities in Regional Development: Conceptual Models and Policy Institutions in the UK, Sweden and Austria

The literature on universities’ contributions to regional development is broad and diverse. A precise understanding of how regions may draw advantages from various university activities and the role of public policy institutions in promoting such activities is still missing. The aim of this paper is to provide a framework for analysing universities’ contributions to regional economic and societal development in differing national contexts and the policy institutions that underpin them. To do this, we review four conceptual models: the entrepreneurial university model, the regional innovation system (RIS) model, the mode 2 university model and the engaged university model. The paper demonstrates that these four models emphasize very different activities and outputs by which universities are seen to benefit regional economy and society. It is also shown that these models differ markedly with respect to the policy implications and practice. Analysing some of the public policy imperatives and incentives in the UK, Austria and Sweden, the paper highlights that in the UK, policies encourage all four university models. In contrast, in Sweden and Austria, policy institutions tend to privilege the RIS university model, whilst at the same time, there is some evidence for increasing support of the entrepreneurial university model.

Adaptation and change in creative clusters: Findings from Vienna's New Media sector

Abstract This paper investigates some of the features of technological heterogeneity in the New Media cluster in Vienna and the local and global factors that have shaped territorial learning conditions over time. Technological heterogeneity is given a central role in cluster evolution for the expansion of local capacities and opportunities for change. In this paper, it is argued that technological heterogeneity is an important but insufficient motor for cluster evolution. Rather, what is required are local technological capabilities and learning conditions for the exploitation of technologies for operations and procedures that are relevant for firm and cluster performance, as posited by evolutionary theories of technical change. These perspectives are used to interpret the complex, variegated and partially unpredictable features of technological heterogeneity in the New Media cluster in Vienna, revealing the importance of the capabilities embodied in people and local conditions of managing uncertainty mediated via heterogeneity in products, processes and client needs. For this sector, conditions of technological instability create increasing importance for local learning and networks if clusters are to be propelled more deeply into existent or more radically into novel specializations.

Evidence-Based Policy Research to Inform the ENP: Five Recommendations for Europe and its Neighbours

Motivated by neoliberal normativism, the ENP drew on a now outdated mix of political and economic reasoning that does not reflect recent scientific evidence on regional development, and is compromised by having been formulated at arms-length from implementing contexts. An expansion of the ENP discourse that builds upon research findings and sustained feedback with field experts in neighbourhood countries is thought to increase the probability of long-term policy success. Rather than trade liberalisation as the primary stimulant, the results specifically suggest innovation support as the default strategy, and migration policy structures to back labour and capital flows.