The RUNIN ITN trained researchers on how universities contribute to innovation and economic growth in their regions. The research performed in RUN examined how universities fulfil their third mission in relation to regional industry and explored the range of university engagement with regional firms and institutions.

The network s involved researchers in innovation studies, regional studies, higher education, entrepreneurship, economics, and public policy, allowing for a variety of disciplinary perspectives to be used in the analyses. It also included close collaborations with regional development agencies or governments in each of the seven participating regions. The 14 PhD fellows have regularly spent time at these agencies, and interactions with regional stakeholders have been an integral part of the training weeks in each region. The findings emphasise the multifaceted nature of universities' roles in innovation and regional development. Universities engage with various societal stakeholders