Title: Heterogeneity among science parks with incubators as intermediaries of research collaborations between startups and universities in Japan

Authors: Nobuya Fukugawa

Addresses: Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-11-804 Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8579, Japan

Abstract: Science parks are expected to act as a catalyst for university spillover in regional innovation systems. Unlike previous studies that analysed the efficiency of science parks as a whole, this study examined how heterogeneity among science parks with incubators affects their capabilities to encourage startups to develop interactive university spillover channels. The intermediary function of science parks with incubators was defined, measured, and evaluated, centring on the role played by incubation managers as gatekeepers. Estimation results reveal that the number of cooperative research projects with universities is positively associated with the scope of incubation managers' professional experiences, but not with the number of full-time incubation managers. The physical advantage, such as the geographical proximity to universities, is not conducive to the commencement of cooperative research with universities. Policy implications of the results in terms of innovation intermediaries are discussed.

Keywords: cooperative research; incubation managers; incubators; innovation intermediaries; Japan; regional innovation systems; science parks; university spillover; startups; universities; university-industry collaboration; industrial cooperation; heterogeneity.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2013.071355

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2013 Vol.12 No.4, pp.231 - 262

Received: 12 Jan 2015
Accepted: 16 Jul 2015
Published online: 21 Aug 2015 *

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