Higher education systems and industrial innovation.

This paper discusses the approach adopted in a European research project concerning the relationships between science and industry. The analysis uses the notion of actors as vectors for the creation and diffusion of competences and knowledge throughout the innovation process. From this perspective, the article presents some results on the strategic behaviour of firms at the micro level in five countries. An analytical framework in terms of ‘conventions’ addresses the interplay between micro and macro levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]