The Fountain of Knowledge The Role of Universities in Economic Development

Breznitz, Shiri

ISBN 10: 0804789614 / ISBN 13: 9780804789615

Published by Stanford Business Books, 2014

About this Item

181 pages. 9.00x6.00x1.00 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-0804789614

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Fountain of Knowledge The Role of Universities in Economic Development
• Publisher: Stanford Business Books
• Publication Date: 2014
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0804789614
• ISBN 13: 9780804789615
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.37 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

Today, universities around the world find themselves going beyond the traditional roles of research and teaching to drive the development of local economies through collaborations with industry. At a time when regions with universities are seeking best practices among their peers, Shiri M. Breznitz argues against the notion that one university's successful technology transfer model can be easily transported to another. Rather, the impact that a university can have on its local economy must be understood in terms of its idiosyncratic internal mechanisms, as well as the state and regional markets within which it operates. To illustrate her argument, Breznitz undertakes a comparative analysis of two universities, Yale and Cambridge, and the different outcomes of their attempts at technology commercialization in biotech. By contrasting these two universities—their unique policies, organizational structure, institutional culture, and location within distinct national polities—she makes a powerful case for the idea that technology transfer is dependent on highly variable historical and environmental factors. Breznitz highlights key features to weigh and engage in developing future university and economic development policies that are tailor-made for their contexts.

About the Author

Shiri M. Breznitz is Assistant Professor at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Her research examines regional economic development with a focus on the role of universities.