Innovation results in Finnish UAS´s reflecting their adaptation to achieve external legitimacy

Abstract

Universities of Applied sciences in Finland have three primary missions: to provide higher education, carry out applied RDI activities and promote regional development. This article focuses on RDI and especially innovation results measured by number of patent applications, patents and utility models.

Laurea UAS has initiated a number of critical strategic development projects to improve in-house operations in such a way that they are better prepared for future challenges. One of those projects is focusing on increasing RDI effectiveness. That project seeks to increase the impact of those activities and the funding growth. We focus on assessing the general conditions leading to results on innovation activities.

We suggest that UAS´s strategic orientation, policies and operational logic lead to innovation results that are a logical consequence of the UAS´s adaptation to their environment’s external expectations and the nature of competition in these markets.