University practice for sustaining regional innovation ecosystem relations: A Central Eastern European case

Building and managing university-external stakeholder relations in regional innovation ecosystems (RIE) has been a challenge for European higher education institutions. How does a Central Eastern European mid-range university sustain such relations, and what factors promote and hinder their effective operation? Using multimethod qualitative research and the Regional Innovation Impact model, our data shed light on the operating conditions of the ’RII Delivery Space’, confirming such promoting factors as supply-demand match, actors’ relevant resources, openness and trust between key people, esp. alumni, while low proactivity, divergent interests, distrust among RIE actors, shortage of personnel, a different educational profile and path dependency impede collaborations. This questions the effectiveness of university contributions to the regional innovation ecosystem, despite a well-institutionalised partner management system with strong personal relations, and underlines meaningful communication and ongoing trust-building as key promoting factors. The findings endorse the regional innovation paradox in Europe, divergent RIE actor interests, and the time and capacity barriers listed in the European and Central Eastern European higher education literature. However, the lack of proactivity and the need for wider communication among RIE actors are specific to this case.