Higher Education Institutions in an Open Innovation System: A UK Perspective

The paper explores the nature and impact of Higher Education Institution (HEI) in a distributed, open innovation system using a survey of some 600 firms in the UK. Primary data is used from a postal questionnaire survey of 600 firms across three United Kingdom (UK) regions: Wales, the North West and the East of England. The analysis reveals significant differences in firm collaboration with HEIs across the UK and the value and impact that such collaborations have on firm development. The nature and effects of such collaboration vary significantly between the type of firm involved and their location and the analysis investigates this in relation to various aspects of innovative activity and firm performance.