Title: Competences in the R&D sector: evidence from a case study in the Area Science Park of Trieste

Authors: Susanna Zaccarin; Ilaria Silvestri

Addresses: DEAMS Department of Economics, Business, Mathematics and Statistics ''B. de Finetti'', University of Trieste, P.le Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy. ' Servizio statistica e affari generali, Regione Autonoma Friuli Venezia Giulia Corso Cavour 1, 34100 Trieste, Italy

Abstract: One important element in assessing the role played by universities in equipping students with skills suitable for developing research and innovation is to identify the demand of firms in the sector. This work examines the skills profile – including technical knowledge, interdisciplinary knowledge and the so-called |soft skills| – required of graduates in R&D in a group of enterprises based at the Trieste Area Science Park (Italy), according to data analysis carried out with a network approach. From a methodological viewpoint, this approach seems to be particularly interesting in examining relations between skills and professional roles.

Keywords: professional activities; university courses; course planning; competences; R&D firms; science parks; network analysis; one mode networks; two mode networks; research and development; higher education; innovation; Italy; graduates.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2011.043200

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2011 Vol.7 No.2, pp.153 - 167

Published online: 19 Oct 2011 *

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