The Handbook of Universities and Regional Development offers a comprehensive and up-to-date insight into how academic institutions impact and enhance their surroundings. It also sheds light on universities as regional development actors from a historical perspective, both by introducing institutional changes and highlighting the interrelatedness of society, business and academia. Chapters provide comprehensive investigations into knowledge transfer mechanisms to explore the diverse ways in which ideas and intellectual property can flow between universities and businesses. Detailed comparative case studies from across the globe expose the highly contextual nature of interactions between academic institutions and their regions. Regional studies scholars will find this Handbook offers a thorough analysis of the topic, as well as a range of key interpretations on the relationships between universities and regional development. Providing important policy recommendations aimed at creating improved relations between academic institutions and their environment, this thought-provoking Handbook is key reading for regional policy makers as well as university managers and administrators.