Current EU policies aim to support regional research, development, and innovation activities. The Cohesion Policy, implemented through Structural Funds (SFs) Operational Programmes, seeks to foster local level innovation. In parallel, universities have become important drivers of regional development through their ‘third mission’ driven by the different policy levels. This article investigates the tensions between the primary institutional logics of the university and the institutional logic of the SF programmes in peripheral regions as experienced by a multi-disciplinary university network from Finland. The findings from the case study reveal competing and co-evolving institutional logics of the two frameworks; university-led SF activities increase collaboration with local stakeholders, but the implementation of SF projects remains challenging (e.g. strict guidelines, higher education (HE) policies driving research excellence). Further investigation of these results in different regional contexts could provide new tools for managing the university third mission more efficiently, through SF programmes and beyond.

中文翻译：

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大学第三次使命和外围地区的欧洲结构基金：来自芬兰的见解

当前的欧盟政策旨在支持区域研究、开发和创新活动。通过结构基金 (SFs) 运营计划实施的凝聚力政策旨在促进​​地方层面的创新。与此同时，大学通过不同政策层面的“第三使命”成为区域发展的重要推动力。本文调查了芬兰多学科大学网络所经历的大学主要制度逻辑与周边地区 SF 项目的制度逻辑之间的紧张关系。案例研究的结果揭示了两个框架相互竞争和共同发展的制度逻辑；大学主导的 SF 活动增加了与当地利益相关者的合作，但 SF 项目的实施仍然具有挑战性（例如。G。严格的指导方针、推动卓越研究的高等教育 (HE) 政策）。在不同区域背景下对这些结果的进一步调查可以为通过 SF 项目及其他项目更有效地管理大学第三次使命提供新的工具。