The transfer of knowledge and technology is widely recognised as one of the main drivers for regional economic development. During difficult economic times and harsh competition for high added value innovation-based economic activities, this transfer is key to sustainable regional development.
From an (eco)system innovation perspective, the focus lies on directing the economy towards sustainable development by focusing on concrete technologies and actors. Linked to the regional innovation system is the spectrum of actors includes governments, universities, public and private research centres and (young, small, large, multinational, etc.) enterprises.
These actors face diminishing resources and increased risk for research and feel a mounting pressure on continuously filling the pipeline of innovation. From an innovation system perspective, environmental framework conditions may not be discarded. From a system innovation perspective, individual actors further face the challenge to contribute, on a medium to long term basis, to sustainable regional economic development.
The interactions between policy making, industry and science partners in terms of increased knowledge flows and technology transfer form an important channel to achieve an integrated sustained development path. A set of strategic tools ranging from technology brokers, technology transfer offices, business incubation centres, technology parks, venture capital funding for spin-off companies, entrepreneurial education, etc. are in place or can be introduced to achieve this.
This special issue is devoted to research exploring, from a system innovation perspective, knowledge and technology transfer as a means to stimulate sustainable regional economic development during economically difficult times. Within this context, papers are invited that address the role of a broad range of actors (government, society, universities – also in their capacity as providers of entrepreneurial education, research centres, enterprises, technology transfer offices, other intermediaries). Both quantitative and qualitative research with room for evaluation, best practices and case studies are welcome.
The issue will carry revised and substantially extended versions of selected papers presented at the 8th European Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ECIE 2013, Brussels, Belgium), but we also strongly encourage researchers unable to participate in the conference to submit articles for this call.
From a system innovation perspective, papers should address research questions pertaining (but not limited) to the following topics:
- Innovation and regional sustainability or regeneration
- Practices and tools for technology transfer
- System innovation for regional development
- Regional innovation systems
- Societal challenges for research
- Entrepreneurial learning and regional development
- The entrepreneurial university
- Innovation-driven science-industry partnerships
- Training initiatives for innovation stimulation
- Regional clusters and local and international innovation networks
- Social business and social innovation
- Regional innovation policy and evaluation
- Case studies or review papers on relevant regional innovation topics
Important Dates
Deadline for submission of manuscripts: 14 March, 2014
Notification of acceptance/rejection to authors: 30 May, 2014
Submission of final manuscript: 8 July, 2014
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