What’s the role of universities in high tech economic
1. What’s the Role of Universities
in High-Tech Economic
Development?
The Case of Portland, Oregon and Washington, DC
By Heike Mayer, 2006
Discussed by Monika Gierszewska
3. Triple helix of U-I-G relations
Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff (1995)
Universities
Provide region with Research, knowledge
skilled workforce creation
Support Reduced gov
entrepreneurs Stanford funding
MIT
Industry Government
4. Triple helix of U-I-G relations
Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff (1995)
Universities
New Jersey
South Korea
Industry Government
5. Triple helix of U-I-G relations
Etzkowitz & Leydesdorff (1995)
Universities
Seattle
Colorado Springs
Industry Government
6. What’s needed for success
Anchor tenant
Innovative environment
Tiers of engagement
7. Case of Portland, Oregan
Universities located outside
Not contributing locally
No applied research
BUT
There is
8. Started by local entrepreneurs in post-
war period
Manufacture & test measurement
instruments
Supportive work environment, education
◦ Create skills labour
1970 build R&D lab: ‘Tek Labs’
◦ No success, closed 1995
Problems in the 1980s
◦ 50% of the staff made redundant
9. 1976 – Intel moves in
From manufacturing to R&D
operations
41% of state patents in 1979-99
27% patents growth in Portland,
compared to 17% in California
labour sourced externally 70-80%
◦ Subcontractors & suppliers
11. Case of Washington, DC
Major universities, not contributing
Other universities establishing R&D
labs due to close proximity to fed gov
agencies, e.g. National Institute of
Health
How did the high-tech evolve?
12. New Policies
Technology Innovation Act
Small Business Patents Act
◦ Incentive for scientist to start their own
Small Business Innovation &
Research Programme
◦ Financing resources for startups
13. Federal downsizing &
outsourcing
Development of startups
◦ Contractual or finding ties with gov
Response creation of incubation
facilities
◦ Targeted educational programmes
45 biotech companies started by ex-
employees of NIH
WC, DC captured 51.9% of nation’s
total procurement in homeland
security
15. Etzkowitz (2001)
– defines Triple Helix
1) Internal transformation of each
individual element of triple helix
2) Nature of relationships, dependency
3) Doesn’t explain engagement of
higher education
16. Boucher et al. (2003)
– explains Tiers of Engagement
1) Single player, close links to regional
development
2) Multi – player universities, less clear
cut
3) Traditional universities in core
regions, engaged on the national
scale rather than local
4) Newer tech-orientated universities,
evolved in a core region
17. Understanding the Future
The role of higher education
◦ For creation & maintenance of high-tech
labour
◦ Knowledge creation
◦ Technology transfer
◦ Entrepreneurship
Also:
◦ Engage in regional culture & sports
◦ Outreach & community services
◦ Increase region’s brand / image
◦ Educational opportunities
18. Summary
Universities not needed for creation of
regional innovation systems
BUT
Necessary for its future expansion