Universities of applied sciences are key players in the field of innovation

The number of research partners of universities of applied sciences has increased tenfold over the past ten years. The network comprises 64,000 partners. This makes universities of applied sciences key players in the field of innovation.

This is evident from a network analysis carried out by Birch on behalf of the Vereniging Hogescholen. The consultancy examined the period between 2015 and 2024. What is particularly noteworthy is that universities of applied sciences are exceptionally good at reaching SMEs. Three-quarters of the 64,000 partners are small and medium-sized enterprises. “For SMEs, the university of applied sciences is often the research and development partner just around the corner: easily accessible, fast and practical,” says Maurice Limmen, chair of the VH. The funding universities of applied sciences receive for practice-oriented research is failing to keep pace with growth. “This puts pressure on this research, with direct consequences for entrepreneurs’ earning potential. We must provide structural funding for practice-oriented research. Otherwise, it is precisely those companies that want to innovate that will fall further and further behind.”

A tenfold increase

Universities of applied sciences receive around one-twentieth of what universities receive for research. Over the past ten years, this amount has increased threefold, whilst the number of partners has increased tenfold. To make projects possible nonetheless and meet the growing demand, universities of applied sciences allocate part of their educational resources to research every year. This will become virtually impossible if the demographic decline continues and funding for education comes under (even) greater pressure.

Structural funding