This book examines the ways in which universities can play a crucial role in inclusive development, social innovation and social entrepreneurship. It aims to prove the importance of inclusive development and inclusive innovation on economic growth and demonstrate the ways in which universities can be pioneers in this area through initiatives in social responsibility and social innovation. For example, providing access to a university education without discrimination of race, gender, income status, or other factors would help to diminish the increasing income differentials currently being experienced in many countries, especially in the developing world. The research and studies included in this book provide insight into possible actions that can be taken by universities and public and private shareholders in inclusive development, social innovation, social entrepreneurship and overall regional economic and social development. Innovation is currently considered to be the most important and dynamic factor explaining growth and development. At the same time, the traditional view considering innovation as having to be commercialized at any price is being challenged. Lately, there has been growing interest in innovation in the public sector, particularly with respect to social innovations designed to reduce income inequality. To address these concepts, constant exchange of ideas and information between research groups became necessary. UniDev (Universities in Development - the Evolving Role of Academic Institutions in Innovation Systems and Development) is an international research group with researchers in twelve countries interested in the role of universities in development. This book features the results of research performed by eleven research groups from UniDev country communities, presenting in-depth and comparative case studies from universities around the world, including Latin America, Northern and Eastern Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. This title will be of interest to students, academics, researchers, and policy makers interested in the role of universities in development, social innovation and social entrepreneurship.

Globalization, the information age, and the rise of the knowledge-based economy are significantly transforming the way we acquire, disseminate, and transform knowledge. And, as a result, knowledge production is becoming closer and more directly linked to economic competitiveness. This evolution is also putting new and urgent demands on academic institutions to adjust to the changing needs of society and economy. In particular, there is growing pressure on the institutions of higher education and research in developed economies to find and affirm their new role in the national innovation system. Their counterparts in developing economies need to define their role in supporting emerging structures of the innovation system. This book examines the role of universities and national research institutes in social and economic development processes. Featuring contributions that showcase initiatives and innovations from around the world, including China, Eastern Europe, Latin America, Scandinavia, Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Western Europe, it offers timely insight that will be of interest to policymakers, university administrators, economic and social leaders, and researchers alike.

This book analyzes the current trends in the production, dissemination, and use of knowledge which contribute to social inequalities, especially in the Global South. The aim of the text is to explore the possibilities of active involvement by universities in the democratization of knowledge - a process by which people will be able to more easily acquire and utilize knowledge, as well as the results and benefits of research and development. Combining higher education, research, and knowledge utilization is what universities should be doing. When they efficiently contribute to overcoming inequality and underdevelopment, they may be considered developmental universities. They should not function in solitude with privileged elites alone, but in the context of "inclusive innovation systems."

This book examines the ways in which universities can play a crucial role in inclusive development, social innovation and social entrepreneurship. It aims to prove the importance of inclusive development and inclusive innovation on economic growth and demonstrate the ways in which universities can be pioneers in this area through initiatives in social responsibility and social innovation. For example, providing access to a university education without discrimination of race, gender, income status, or other factors would help to diminish the increasing income differentials currently being experienced in many countries, especially in the developing world. The research and studies included in this book provide insight into possible actions that can be taken by universities and public and private shareholders in inclusive development, social innovation, social entrepreneurship and overall regional economic and social development. Innovation is currently considered to be the most important and dynamic factor explaining growth and development. At the same time, the traditional view considering innovation as having to be commercialized at any price is being challenged. Lately, there has been growing interest in innovation in the public sector, particularly with respect to social innovations designed to reduce income inequality. To address these concepts, constant exchange of ideas and information between research groups became necessary. UniDev (Universities in Development - the Evolving Role of Academic Institutions in Innovation Systems and Development) is an international research group with researchers in twelve countries interested in the role of universities in development. This book features the results of research performed by eleven research groups from UniDev country communities, presenting in-depth and comparative case studies from universities around the world, including Latin America, Northern and Eastern Europe, and sub-Saharan Africa. This title will be of interest to students, academics, researchers, and policy makers interested in the role of universities in development, social innovation and social entrepreneurship.

La mondialisation, l'ere de l'information et l'essor de l'economie du savoir transforment profondement les modalites d'acquisition, de diffusion et de transformation du savoir. Il s'ensuit que la production du savoir a graduellement davantage a voir avec la competitivite economique et y est plus directement liee. Ce nouvel etat de fait signifie egalement que les universites se sentent de plus en plus poussees a s'adapter aux besoins de la societe et de l'economie, qui evoluent sans cesse. En particulier, des pressions croissantes s'exercent sur les etablissements d'enseignement superieur et de recherche des pays industrialises pour qu'ils definissent et affirment leur nouveau role au sein du systeme national d'innovation. Les etablissements des pays en developpement, quant a eux, sont appeles a definir le role qu'ils joueront afin de soutenir les structures emergentes du systeme d'innovation. Ce livre examine le role des universites et des instituts de recherche nationaux dans le developpement economique et social. En reunissant des textes rendant compte d'initiatives et d'innovations dans diverses regions du monde, notamment en Chine, en Europe de l'Est, en Amerique latine, en Scandinavie, en Asie du Sud-Est, en Afrique subsaharienne et en Europe de l'Ouest, l'ouvrage brosse un tableau qui est d'actualite et qui interessera tant les responsables des politiques et les administrateurs d'universites que les leaders economiques et sociaux et les chercheurs. Bo Goeransson et Claes Brundenius sont tous deux affilies au Research Policy Institute de l'Universite de Lund, en Suede. M. Goeransson est professeur agrege et coordonnateur du programme LEAP4D, et M. Brundenius est professeur honoraire.