Improvement of the innovative ecosystem at universities

Abstract

The world practice has proven that universities can become a source of innovations and the centers of innovative movement. However, there is almost no research into the development of innovative ecosystems of universities under conditions of limited funding and permanent crisis phenomena in the economy. This is a characteristic feature of many countries in the world that are developing or being transformed. The tool for reducing the action of negative factors is to increase the level of organization of innovative ecosystems of universities. It was found that the consequences of creating an innovative ecosystem of the University are an increase in the degree of commercialization of knowledge of university scientists and students, improvement of human capital, and intensifying cooperation between science, education, business and government agencies in the field of research and innovation. The main actors in the university’s innovation ecosystem were separated and their main functional roles were described. In particular, functional roles include education (innovative and entrepreneurial educational programs), basic science (scientific parks, scientific and research laboratories), applied science (startup accelerators, business incubators, startup clubs), and commercialization (centers for knowledge and technology transfer). The experience of creating separate elements of innovative ecosystems of universities of the world was considered and positive results were given. The essence of the concepts of commercialization of knowledge, technology transfer was studied and basic methodological approaches to the creation of the Center for knowledge and technologies transfer on the university base were explored. The purpose, objectives, directions, and functions of the Center for Knowledge and Technology Transfer were highlighted. It was proposed to focus on working at specific requests at any stage of the development of the idea on the principles of the individual approach of targeted assistance, openness to communications, and support throughout all stages of an innovative project.