Universities, Innovation and Economic Growth: A Regional Perspective

This paper reviews two parallel but related debates: the debate about competitive and prosperous regions and the role played by universities as centers of innovation in a regional perspective. It questions whether it is always necessary to connect regional economic growth with excellence in research and innovation universities. While the American universities are able to spread innovation and knowledge to a large variety of entities, European universities tend to contribute less to the regional development across Europe. Despite existing similarities in transmitting knowledge (regional networks and knowledge-based collaboration), differences related to the type of knowledge needed by firms and the service to communities may be an obstacle in the universities' attempt to contribute to regional prosperity and growth within the European Union.