What works? Regional Impacts of University Foundations

Tasks

In August 2020, plans for the foundation of a new technical university in Upper Austria were announced. In this context, the ifo Institute was commissioned to prepare an evidence report on the regional impact of university foundations.

Universities are considered as drivers of innovation and economic progress. Their research and education activities are expected to produce qualified graduates, the emergence of innovative companies and stronger economic and employment growth. Universities have a particular impact on their immediate environment. An oft-cited example of a university that has spawned a significant technology cluster in its vicinity is Stanford University, located near the Silicon Valley. Despite the theoretically well-founded positive effects of universities, many channels are not easy to prove empirically and are more likely to be classified as anecdotal evidence, which is why a critical examination of the postulated effects is needed.

In order to better assess which regional effects can be expected from the establishment of a university, this project summarizes the results of selected impact studies from different countries on the effects of universities on their region. Subsequently, it will be examined to what extent the findings can be transferred to the Upper Austrian context. For this purpose, Prof. Gabriel Felbermayr, who is a profound expert on the Austrian institutional structure, contributes his expertise.

Methods

Meta-study based on an extensive literature review.