Industry and University: International and interinstitutional cooperation and the role of student mobility in the German innovation system

Abstract

This paper aims to present a framework for policies taken by the Federal Republic of Germany in order to absorb the technical and scientific capabilities worldwide as an effect of the attraction of students and researchers. The motivations, which originated the need for keeping its industrial competitiveness, overcoming mishaps, economic and social challenges as well as introducing this process in the field of international cooperation, will be considered. In order to do so, the article will promote discussion on the role of the university in the process of production of knowledge and highlight the international and interinstitutional cooperation as an important element for student mobility, production and exchange of knowledge, including the situation of the migration process inside Germany. Next, after establishing links between the production of knowledge and generation of innovation, it will demonstrate how this process manifests itself in the German industrial competitiveness. To reinforce the literature on the subject, the paper will provide a survey data that demonstrates not only the need for the initiative, but also how it has been changing the arrangement and the articulation among sectors for this purpose. Finally, the article will analyze: the international circulation of students in relation to Germany: the participation of private, public and university sectors in research and innovation; and their consequences. The period 2000-2012 was divided into two parts to make it possible to delineate the reality faced by the country and the outcome of the program's implementation. Still based on the information available, the article will attempt to delimitate the German innovation program in order to indicate a possible model of innovation that could be reproduced by countries in disadvantage.