university–enterprise cooperation

Under the socialist system in former Yugoslavia
(+ Albania – Slovenia = WBCs), almost all
countries had a strong research capacities
within large self-managed companies.
Following the break-up of Yugoslavia and the
collapse of the self-management system, many
of these companies were broken up and their
research teams were dispersed. Many researchers
and engineers left established industries to set
up new firms. From the other side, the new
states succeeded, in some extent, in preserving
science capacity in public universities and
research institutes.
However, new age requires new models of
cooperation between universities and
enterprises in Western Balkan region.
The common objective of knowledge-based
economic development efforts in the WBC
should be focused towards the creation
of an “Innovating Region”. The Western
Balkan region as an “Innovating Region”
should have the capability to move across
technological paradigms and periodically
renew itself through new technologies and
firms generated from its academic base. The
involvement of an entrepreneurial university
in this concept is the key to the transition
from regional development efforts based on
existing industry to knowledge-based
regional development.
6.1 Challenges and prospective
views
Universities (higher education) and enterprises
(industry) should be closely connected to and
cooperate with each other for the common
goal of pursuing social development. However,
cultural differences are an important
consideration of the development of universityenterprise
collaborations. Universities and
companies differ in the way that:
• Research is funded;
• The expected outcomes of research
programs;
• The way that each manages the results
of research.
University research is driven by individual curiosity
and the desire to extend the boundaries of
knowledge. The mission of most universities
can be summarized as teaching, research,
and outreach. In support of these elements
of their missions, universities foster a culture
which supports the sharing of information
with colleagues and the publication of the
research results in peer-reviewed journals. In
contrast, companies use science to develop
products that can be sold and generate a
101
Knowledge for
Knowledge’s Sake
UNIVERSITY
INDUSTRY
Management of
Knowledge for Profit
Teaching
Research
Service
Economic
Development
Commercialization
of New and Useful
Technologies
Profits
Product R&D
Academic Freedom
Open Discourse
Confidentiality
Limited Public Disclosure
Figure 1. Bridging and linking different cultures of academic and industrial sectors
New WBC model of university-enterprise cooperation 6