Innovation modes and knowledge relations: The learning match between university and enterprises from a regional perspective

In regions with growth challenges, knowledge-producing institutions like universities have potentials of stimulating growth. Often the analyses of universities’ knowledge potentials are strictly related to utility of research and spin-offs from research. Research certainly has potentials related to innovation and entrepreneurship, but it is not the only knowledge source of importance for learning and innovation in relations between university and enterprises. This chapter focuses on two knowledge sources of potential importance for modes of learning and innovation relations between universities and regional enterprises. The two knowledge sources are research based, codified and verified knowledge (STI) and experience, relational and problem-based knowledge (DUI). The learning and innovation modes can be driven either from the university or from the enterprises. The empirical analysis is based on a specific university (AAU) situated in northern Jutland, Denmark. It sets focus on the four windows in a relational typology: University driven STI relations show a high proportion of research collaboration and an increasing number of inventions. University driven DUI relations contribute to entrepreneurship and regional cluster development. Enterprise driven STI relations show a specific pattern of collaboration on innovations and enterprise driven DUI relations demonstrate the potentials of problem based learning (PBL).