The Role of Proximity Dimensions in Facilitating University-Industry Collaboration in Peripheral Regions: Insights from a Comparative Case Study in Northern Norway

Abstract

It is commonly argued in the literature on regional innovation that regions must continuouslydevelop new economic activities to compensate for economic decline. If a region manages to diversifyfrom an existing path, it can sustain long-term economic development. One of the measurestaken to increase these types of opportunities and to avoid lock-in is to stimulate a closer relationshipand collaboration between universities and industry partners. However, we know little aboutthe formation and investigation of successful university-industry relationships in regions outsidemetropolitan areas. This paper seeks to fill this research gap by investigating how different dimensionsof cognitive, organizational, social and geographical proximity facilitate or hinder innovationprocesses in collaborations between industry and universities in peripheral regions. We find thatsocial proximity, combined with high organizational proximity, overcomes the barriers presentedby low geographical proximity. Social proximity compensates for thin regional structures with fewhigh-tech firms, a lack of knowledge producers and a weak support system. An important policyimplication is that stimulating collaboration within areas of expertise possessed by university andindustry partners create potential for innovation.