Universities in less developed regions: analyzing their local research impact

Abstract

It is not uncommon to encounter overoptimistic views among policy-makers concerning the extent to which the research outcome of a university can have an impact on the innovation and economic performance of a local economy. Policies and expectations are usually influenced by optimal cases of top-ranked universities in highly innovative geographies. However, most universities do not function in such contexts, but in regions of weak innovation and economic development, often characterized as less developed regions (LDRs). To enrich our understanding about universities within LDRs, this study attempts to provide insights into the local research impact of a young university located within an LDR by analyzing bibliometric data. Findings show that although the university’s research output grows, there is hardly any evidence of an impact on local organizations, suggesting that the expected universities’ roles and related innovation policies should always consider the characteristics of the place within which they function.