European universities and regional economic development – A survey of Nordic universities and their entrepreneurial strategies

This paper reports on a survey of the 20 largest Nordic universities, 12 Humboldtian type universities and 8 technical universities, and their espoused objectives and strategies regarding their entrepreneurial and regional innovation role. The study is based on archival data; public documents issued by each university, and interviews with university top managers responsible for the third mission. The study describes and analyzes objectives, strategies and performance measures in relation to the Nordic universities’ innovative and entrepreneurial role, discuss reasons for varying empirical pattern and policy implications. Study is ongoing.