Development of innovations in Sweden HEIs: a case study of Uppsala University

Abstract

The article emphasizes that in the context of accelerated democratization and European integration, the use of a value model of the management in higher education, based on the university autonomy and their public («third») mission, is urgent for the HEIs of Ukraine. Creating innovations is its integral part. Sweden experience, as a country with a high innovation index, regarding the development of innovation in higher education institutions is analyzed. The country's policy on the organization of research at universities, aimed at strengthening the «strategic» research areas, such as interdisciplinary industrial and social research, is considered. The main initiatives of the country's government, which have helped to strengthen the strategic fields of research activity and stimulate the emergence of new values in the higher education sector, such as entrepreneurship and competitiveness, are given. In the case study a successful example of Uppsala University infrastructure was studied using the HEInnovate method and the following key criteria - governance, potential of HEI/ financing/personnel/initiatives, entrepreneurial education, innovation support, knowledge sharing and collaboration, Internationalization, digital transformation. The main values and cultural guidelines of the institution, its governance at different levels and communication between different stakeholders and university are characterized. The main productive initiatives of the university, aimed at developing the skills and competencies of researchers and students, necessary for the successful implementation of projects, commercialization, and start-ups are considered. A number of factors that have had a positive impact on the innovation potential of Swedish universities as well as on the country's position in global innovation rankings have been identified. It is suggested to use the experience in dealing with innovators and external stakeholders of Uppsala University by Ukrainian research universities for upgrading their infrastructure.