Connecting Research, Higher Education and Business: Implications for Innovation

Abstract

Developing innovation n etwork s might positively influence research and development performance, boost creation of new knowledge, and increase technology transfer and export of high technology products in a country. In our study, we analysed some of the networking mechanisms in Slovenia, which have been introduced to create innovation synergies between research, higher education, and business sector: Competence Centres, Centres of Excellence, and Development Centres. Through the analysis we confirmed the basic assumptions stemming from the theory of networking. We found that: innovative clusters (or groups) usually consist of members who come from similar disciplines or industries, the history of cooperation represents an important element of innovative cooperation, and groups are usually geographically concentrated. Besides, we confirmed and revealed some problems related to Slovenian technological development and consequently economic performance.

Keywords

• networking
• innovation
• social network analysis