University technology transfer, regional specialization and local dynamics: lessons from Italy

Academic research on knowledge transfer has focused on the United States, the highest technologies, elite US research universities, and, for the most part, has not considered the interactions between regional firms and low- and medium-technology industries—the industries that are most important in most countries and in Italy, in particular. This Special Issue on knowledge transfer by Italian universities consists of papers that show the multi-faceted roles that Italian universities have developed and, in particular, their strong regional focus. In this introduction, we explore the interplay between universities’ involvement in knowledge transfer and local context and regional specificities. We discuss the variety of channels through which knowledge can flow and emphasize the mechanisms that universities have developed to interact with the lower technology, traditional industries that characterize the Italian economy. We explore the conundrum that Italian universities face as they must balance the competitive demands of academe to publish in international journals, while remaining engaged with local and regional businesses. The papers in this Special Issue examine the knowledge transfer efforts by universities in the very Italian different regions, which have their own different specific opportunities and needs for university engagement.