Papers by Paul Benneworth
Planning systems are often portrayed as having two interrelated purposes. First, they aim to reso... more Planning systems are often portrayed as having two interrelated purposes. First, they aim to resolve conflicts between neighbours over the use of land; second, they aim to assert and promote particular place qualities to improve quality of life, economic competitiveness or environmental conditions (Vigar et al 2000).
The relocation of civil service and related public sector jobs from London and the South East is ... more The relocation of civil service and related public sector jobs from London and the South East is usually considered on grounds of cost, with a payback seen in terms of the particular department. In this report we argue that this is only part of the picture that needs to be examined.
This paper is concerned with what makes a good university entrepreneurship programme (UEP), in pa... more This paper is concerned with what makes a good university entrepreneurship programme (UEP), in particular with which features are necessary to allow UEPs to thrive within university settings. The paper begins from the paradox that UEPs are part of university's extended development periphery, and always risk being eliminated because they do not deliver core university outputs, teaching and research.
There is increasing acknowledgement that we are living in a knowledge economy, and there is a gro... more There is increasing acknowledgement that we are living in a knowledge economy, and there is a growing consensus that 'knowledge capital'is an increasingly important determinant of productivity growth, economic development and ultimately improvements in standards of living (cf. Temple, 1998 for a review). From the 1980s onwards, macro-economists have noted that growth can no longer be accounted for in terms of investments in traditional 'factors of production', land, labour and machinery.
A draft list of papers has been presented to the conference organisers, including presenters from... more A draft list of papers has been presented to the conference organisers, including presenters from as far afield as Ireland, Germany, India and Sweden. Due to this unexpectedly high response, we have requested an additional session from the conference organisers, and so it is not yet possible to confirm this programme. Subject to being granted an additional session, which seems highly likely, the sessions will be organised into separate economic and political streams.
There is an increasing recognition that there is a need to rebalance the contributions that unive... more There is an increasing recognition that there is a need to rebalance the contributions that universities make to society. The so-called third mission for universities, also described as external engagement, has evolved considerably in the past quarter century, although the roots of engagement go back to the origins of most universities. In 1982, an OECD CERI report explored all dimensions of community engagement, with business, government, the third sector and society (OECD, 1982).
University Spin Off companies (USOs) have recently emerged as a popular mechanism by which univer... more University Spin Off companies (USOs) have recently emerged as a popular mechanism by which universities can contribute to the development of regions, because they seemingly embody all the virtues of a knowledge society (Etzkowitz, 2001). USOs are companies which form primarily to exploit a piece of intellectual property developed within a university. Their wealth and employment creation is a 'free'return to past scientific investment, at relatively low direct cost (Di Gregorio & Shane, 2003).
The recent failure to deliver the Lisbon agenda has led to much soul-searching within Europe (cf.... more The recent failure to deliver the Lisbon agenda has led to much soul-searching within Europe (cf. The Sapir Group, 2005). This failure has enlarged the gulf between the limited number of successful knowledge regions, and those regions for whom globalisation has brought further anxiety, job losses and economic restructuring.
Over the years, policy-makers have increasingly advanced the position that excellence in higher e... more Over the years, policy-makers have increasingly advanced the position that excellence in higher education is necessary for national systems to survive in today's interconnected and highly competitive world. Campaigns to support so-called “world-class universities” have been justified on the grounds that failing to do so would lead, inter alia, to loss of talent and international competitiveness. In contrast, policies to reward élite institutions are held to engender economic and reputational benefits for the nation.
There is an increasing recognition that there is a need to rebalance universities' societal contr... more There is an increasing recognition that there is a need to rebalance universities' societal contributions. The rise of the so-called third mission for universities, external engagement, has evolved in the past quarter century. In 1982, a CERI report explored all dimensions of community engagement, with business, government, the third sector and society. However, the third mission has increasingly become equated with commercialisation, patents and licensing, a trend enforced by the easy measurement associated with these variables.
Although there has been in recent years a remarkable consensus about the notion of a knowledge so... more Although there has been in recent years a remarkable consensus about the notion of a knowledge society, there still remains considerable disagreement about the details of how knowledge adds value and creates competitive advantage (Temple, 1998; Armstrong, 2001).
There is now a widespread acceptance that we are moving towards a knowledge economy, where human ... more There is now a widespread acceptance that we are moving towards a knowledge economy, where human capital is as important for economic growth and social wellbeing as land, labour and machinery (see inter alia Temple, 1998, for a review). This new‗ knowledge economy 'creates particular challenges for urban and regional planning, not least because of the propensity of knowledge capital to agglomerate without decreasing returns to scale (Romer, 1994; Solow, 1994).
1. We welcome the opportunity to comment on the questions raised in the consultation on the propo... more 1. We welcome the opportunity to comment on the questions raised in the consultation on the proposed new Regional Growth Fund. The evidence is written by a team with considerable experience in relation to regional policy in England and the UK, but also internationally. This evidence is being submitted on behalf of the Regional Studies Association, which has since its foundation actively supported research into the perennial English/ UK regional problem (cf. Massey, 1977; Roberts, 1983; Harrison & Hart, 1990; Benneworth, 2001; Hardill et al., 2007).
ABSTRACT Universities can therefore be important determinants of urban competitiveness as signifi... more ABSTRACT Universities can therefore be important determinants of urban competitiveness as significant knowledge businesses, as well as the suppliers of the human and intellectual capital on which knowledge businesses depend. What seems under-explored in this analysis is how changes in the core university business is impacting on their role in supporting the international competitiveness of cities.
Abstract This paper explores whether entrepreneurship can help less successful regions improve th... more Abstract This paper explores whether entrepreneurship can help less successful regions improve their regional economic situation, without all the benefits which entrepreneurship brings being stripped out to more successful regions. The working paper uses the idea that peripheral regions possess qualities of tradition and underdevelopment, and that these help to anchor new firms into these regions, resistant to their concentration in core regions.
Stefan Collini has undoubtedly done a great service to the university community in channelling cr... more Stefan Collini has undoubtedly done a great service to the university community in channelling criticisms of the current state of higher education in the UK into popular public discourse, writes Paul Benneworth. Readers will wryly raise an eyebrow at some of his characterisations of HE in this enjoyable and accessible read. What Are Universities For? Stefan Collini. Penguin. February 2012. 240 pages.
Entrepreneurship holds a privileged position in theories of regional economic development (Piore ... more Entrepreneurship holds a privileged position in theories of regional economic development (Piore & Sabel, 1984; Gregersen & Johnsen, 1997). New paradigms of regional development, stressing learning, flexibility, knowledge and networking all assume a dynamism behind which Schumpeterian entrepreneurs lie as a driving force (Castells, 1996; Cooke & Morgan, 1998; Fontes & Coombs, 2001).
Today, more than ever, universities all over the world are expected to play an instrumental role ... more Today, more than ever, universities all over the world are expected to play an instrumental role in the broad process of socio-economic development at either the local, national, and/or supranational levels (Hölttä 2000; Charles 2003; European Commission 2003).
The electronics sector as a set of high technology industries has long been associated with econo... more The electronics sector as a set of high technology industries has long been associated with economically successful regions. Silicon Valley exemplifies this, with its highly dynamic ICT and high-technology services economy. It is therefore natural perhaps for agencies interested in revitalising the economies of more fragile regions to conclude that the electronics sector is a solid foundation upon which under-performing economies can be revived.
This report has been written with three main readers in mind. The first, the higher education ins... more This report has been written with three main readers in mind. The first, the higher education institutions and the representatives of the public, private and community sectors who are working together to enhance the development of the Twente region through various networks and platforms such as the Innovation Platform Twente. We hope that the report will help them in this partnership building process for the benefit of the development of the region.
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Papers by Paul Benneworth