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Seoul Journal of Economics
[ Article ]
Seoul Journal of Economics - Vol. 22, No. 4, pp.445-466
ISSN: 1225-0279 (Print)
Print publication date 30 Nov 2009
Received 27 Feb 2009 Revised 24 Oct 2009

China’s Horizontal University-Industry Linkage: Where From and Where To

Jong-Hak Eun
Assistant Professor, Chinese Studies Major, School of International & Area Studies, Kookmin University, 861-1, Jeongneung-Dong, Seongbuk-Gu, Seoul 136-702, Korea, Tel: +82-2-910-4441, Fax: +82-2-910-4429 jheun@kookmin.ac.kr

JEL Classification: I23, O43, O53

Abstract

This study aims to explore the emerging horizontal universityindustry linkage (UIL) in China, which is hardly addressed in existing literature. For that purpose, we conducted two separate but closely related questionnaire surveys: one for university professors in China, and another for firms. From the surveys, we determined that horizontal UIL is now replacing the traditional mode of knowledge industrialization in China. We also discovered that the current horizontal UIL in China is heavily dependent on “formal contracts.” According to our preliminary econometric analyses, the characteristic Chinese preference towards formal contractbased UIL could be explained by the lack of “institutional thickness” in China. This implies that China should utilize more varied channels of horizontal UIL, including informal and open science channels, as the institution becomes more sophisticated. Currently, most Chinese firms appear to be very positive in evaluating their own experiences of collaboration with universities. However, we have also confirmed that promoting direct and formal UIL is not without social costs (e.g., damaging university education), which policy makers should carefully consider.

Keywords:

University-industry linkage (UIL), Questionnaire, China

Acknowledgments

This study was financially supported by the International Development Research Center (IDRC). The author would like to express his gratitude to professors Guisheng Wu and Yi Wang at Tsinghua University for their support of the surveys conducted in China. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the International Conference on Chinese Universities in Transition and Asian Experiences, hosted by the CHINDIA Research Institute of Kookmin University.

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