Title: The role of entrepreneurship- and technology transfer-oriented initiatives in improving the innovation system in the Western Balkans

Authors: Rainer Harms, Malgorzata A. Wdowiak, Erich J. Schwarz

Addresses: University of Twente – NIKOS, Dutch Institute for Knowledge Intensive Entrepreneurship, Capitool 15, Room C-305, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' Klagenfurt University, Department of Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, Universitaetsstrasse 65-67, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria. ' Klagenfurt University, Department of Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship, Universitaetsstrasse 65-67, 9020 Klagenfurt, Austria

Abstract: To improve the current political and social situation in Western Balkans, the region needs to gain economic stability. Regional academic institutions can play an important role in that respect. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the role that regional academic institutions can play in strengthening the regional system of innovation. Particularly, we discuss the importance of entrepreneurship education (EE) and technology transfer (TT), provide an overview of the state of their implementation and discuss examples of how institutional networks can engage in EE and TT, particularly to small and medium-sized enterprises. While institutions of higher education and public research institutions have already gone a long way to foster EE and TT, much remains to be done to reach their potential.

Keywords: entrepreneurship education; innovation; regional development; technology transfer; transition economies; small and medium-sized enterprises; SMEs; universities; higher education; research institutions; globalisation; Western Balkans; Albania; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Croatia; Macedonia; Montenegro; Serbia; Kosovo.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2010.029522

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2010 Vol.4 No.1, pp.18 - 34

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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