Regional innovation effects of applied research institutions

Curdin Pfister, Miriam Koomen, Dietmar Harhoff () and Uschi Backes-Gellner

Research Policy, 2021, vol. 50, issue 4

Abstract: We analyze the effect of applied research institutions on regional innovation activity. Exploiting a policy reform that created tertiary education institutions conducting applied research, the Universities of Applied Sciences (UASs) in Switzerland, we apply difference-in-differences estimations to investigate their effect on innovation quantity and quality. Findings show a 6.8% increase in regional patenting activity (i.e., quantity), and an increase of patent quality of up to 9.7% (measured by patent family size, and the number of claims, and citations per patent). Findings are robust to various model specifications, suggesting that applied research taught in UASs boosts regional innovation.

Keywords: Innovation; Applied R&D; Higher education; Patents; Difference-in-differences (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I23 O33 O38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (19)

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Working Paper: Regional Innovation Effects of Applied Research Institutions (2021)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:respol:v:50:y:2021:i:4:s0048733321000019

DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2021.104197

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