This article summarizes an October 2006 conference held by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and the Midwest Higher Education Compact on higher education's role in economic growth. Conference speakers included Richard Lester from MIT, Michael Luger of the University of North Carolina, Ned Hill of Cleveland State, Sean Safford of the University of Chicago, Larry Isaak of the Midwest Higher Education Compact, and Randy Eberts of the Upjohn Institute.
This paper reviews studies that examine the extent to which university research promotes local economic development. These impacts include: attracting industrial laboratories, the start-up of technology businesses, and opportunities for collaborative research that can help enhance industrial products.
This report, prepared for the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, uses a series of case studies to describe the role of universities in the creation of regional industry clusters.
"Two opposing forces reshaped knowledge networks in 'rust belt' communities over the course of the 1980s and 1990s. On the one hand, large industrial companies which for generations had stood at these places' economic, social and intellectual cores attempted to reinvigorate their own innovation processes by reaching out beyond the parochial boundaries of locales in which they resided to tap into what was seen as a richer set of conversations taking place in Europe, Asia and in the coastal regions of the U.S."
Using case studies from 12 U.S. research universities, this report documents how they establish industry research partnerships, effectively transfer technology to businesses and entrepreneurs, provide technical assistance, and develop human capital.
The author highlights how university-industry technology transfer can help regional economies grow, and how states can promote university-industry collaboration.