This book presents an overview of recent policy outcomes in the field of academia-business links in different European countries. It covers a broad range of approaches, from new public funding instruments to reforms of intellectual property rights and regional network policies. A special focus is put on practical policy implications and discussions about reform.

Introduction: Academia-Business Linkages in Europe--R. Wink * PART ONE: THE CHANGED ENVIRONMENT OF UNIVERSITIES * Spin offs and Start ups in UK Universities--D. Hague * Are Research Spin offs a Local Phenomenon? Empirical Findings from Germany--J. Egeln, S. Gottschalk, C. Rammer & A. Spielkamp * Academia and Business: Links and Lags in Spain--J. Alfonso-Gil & A. Saez-Cala * Measuring and Funding the 'Third Mission': The UK Policy Debate--J. Molas-Gallart * The Role of Intellectual Property Rights Regimes for R&D Cooperation between Industry and Academia--U. Blum & S. Müller * PART TWO: ACADEMIA-BUSINESS LINKAGES AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT * Why Invest in Biotechnology? German and British Biotechnology Compared--R. Harding * Geographical Proximity and Circulation of Knowledge through Inter-firm Cooperation--D. Gallaud & A. Torre * Evaluating the Future Impact of Academic Research in New Technologies: The Case of Bio-Photonics in Germany--G. Benzler & M. Kraus * The Matrix INT (Instruments and Needs of Technology) and the Evaluation of Innovation Policies--R. Cappellin * PART THREE: ACADEMIA-BUSINESS LINKAGES AND THE REGIONAL DIMENSION * The Territorial Development of Innovation Support Assets through University-Business Interactions: Towards a Dynamic Model--P. Benneworth & S. Dawley * Regional Innovation System Barriers and the Rise of Boundary Crossing Institutions--P. Cooke * Universities as Hubs to Global Knowledge Pipelines? A Strategy-Focused Perspective on Regional University Policies--R. Wink * Enlarging the Scale of Knowledge and Innovation Networks: Theoretical Perspectives, Methodological Approaches and Policy Issues--R. Cappellin & M. Steiner