Universities and industrial transformation: An interpretative and selective literature study with special emphasis on Sweden

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to make a selective and interpretative review of the literature on university-industry relations, with the aim of identifying questions for further research. We provide the 'bare bones' of an analytical framework for approaching university-industry relations, where we conceptualise the role of universities in the innovation and diffusion process as one of the providers of a range of functions in an innovation system. We proceed by addressing three themes with a strong bearing on science and educational policy, focussing on Sweden. These are: (1) how to measure the size and performance of academic research, (2) how to assess the value of academic R&D, and (3) how to improve the value of the academic sector where we deal with the issue of 'responsiveness'. We conclude by specifying a set of questions that need further research.university-industry relations, innovation, diffusion, R&D, Sweden