Partnering for innovation : towards a university-industry collaboration ecosystem model in a knowledge-based economy

• Main Author: Sipacio, Philippe John F.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2018
• Subjects: Knowledge economy > Philippines.; Academic-industrial collaboration > Philippines.; Business and education > Philippines.; Educational innovations > Philippines.
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/1342
• Institution: De La Salle University

The current data showing the ranking of all countries in a knowledge-based economy (KBE) and the levels of skills mismatch presented by the World Bank, World Economic Forum, and Department of Labor and Employment respectively illustrate the need to increase the competitiveness and productivity of the Philippines through the strategic promotion of innovation and human capital development. An essential component of this strategy is an established university-industry collaboration (UIC). However, there are limited studies in the Philippines that provide a more profound, comprehensive, and up to date understanding of the UIC and its mechanisms employed by higher educational institutions (HEIs) in promoting innovation through empirical evidence.This dissertation aims to determine the mechanisms that the HEIs employ in engaging UIC to promote innovations in a KBE. Specifically, this study seeks to identify the enabling mechanisms that promote and inhibit innovations, and to design the UIC ecosystem model for management, research, and practice.As a method, the qualitative exploratory case study was employed. There were five Philippine HEIs selected to participate based on their number of Center of Excellence and Center of Development awards by the Commission on Higher Education in disciplines most relevant to KBE, level of accreditation by the certified agencies under the Federation of Accrediting Agencies of the Philippines, and active engagements in collaboration with the knowledge-based industries. These are Central Luzon State University, De La Salle University, University of the Philippines- Los Baños, University of Sto. Tomas, and West Visayas State University.The findings of the case study showed that the five selected HEIs actively engage UIC to promote innovation by employing various mechanisms such as research and development (R&D) programs, commercialization of R&D, inclusion of industry practitioner to the advisory board, entrepreneurship education programs for faculty and students, extended practicum and industry exposure hours of students and faculty, incubator facility, and intellectual property and technology transfer offices.Moreover, seven themes emerged that were influenced by the Diffusion of Innovation Theory, the Triple-Helix Model, and the National Innovation System theory and extracted from the reviewed literature and studies. In addition, these themes served as a guide in developing a UIC ecosystem model. These themes are (1) UIC can strengthen the roles of HEIs as the knowledge factory in a KBE (2) UIC is an ecosystem (3) UIC key players should work cooperatively and communicate efficiently to influence and increase UIC and adoption of innovation positively (4) Transformational leadership is a crucial element in UIC (5) Knowledge should be managed efficiently in UIC (6) Effective innovation requires sufficient IP infrastructure, incentives and expertise, and (7) Performance management is vital in UIC.The UIC ecosystem model defines and clarifies synergistic relationships and transactions among HEIs, industry, and government in promoting innovation through UIC. Further, the framework offers two strategies namely the Dynamic KBE Interaction in Triple Helix and the Development Cycle of Synergistic UIC that can be very useful for management, research, and practice of UIC not only in the Philippines, but also in other countries transitioning to a KBE.Finally, this study recommends that a longitudinal study is needed to measure the efficiency and effectiveness of UIC on HEIs. The indicators from this proposed framework can be used as a tool for measurement when it is already validated by both theorizer and practitioner. Since the model is still considered a work in progress, it is recommended that more follow-up empirical studies be conducted that focus on its actual and practical implementation in HEIs by scholars and practitioners. It is also recommended that the follow-up studies consider the perspectives of the industries on the impact created for them. To ensure that faculty, staff, and administrators will be empowered, a series of related forums, workshops, and training on how the model can be applied in HEIs should be conducted. Moreover, the advantages and compatibility with institutional values of the model need to be communicated clearly to the stakeholders. These programs will serve as a jumpstart in establishing a social network and a database of good practices on UIC in the Philippines.