Universities and their contribution to sustainable regional development The economic impact of universities on regional development can be due to their backward-linkages (e. g. regional employment and demand) on the one hand and their forward linkages (e. g. transfer of knowledge and provision of human capital) on the other hand. Topics of the first chapter in this book are the variety of transfer channels between universities and regions, barriers to and determinants of knowledge transfer as well as governance modes for a successful cooperation between universities and their surrounding regions. In recent years, the concept of the so called third mission of universities (in addition to research and education) is often enhanced by the normative concept of sustainability. From this point of view, universities are also responsible for a sustainable development of society. If politics wants to strengthen universities in this role, this might have significant implications on the higher education system as a whole as well as the strategic missions of university boards. This becomes evident in the empirically definable new structural type of engaged universities. These universities see themselves as agents for sustainable development, especially in their own region, which they treat as a kind of natural laboratory. Referring to case study evidence, the second chapter of this book deals with the contribution of universities to sustainable development. Finally, the book presents research on the unintentional impacts of modern science policy on regional development. The recent shift towards excellence-oriented and merit-based research funding, the bologna reforms and the increased orientation on fostering knowledge networks in innovation policy all have significant spatial impacts. The empirical research of these impacts as well as the evaluation regarding regional development goals are the subject of the contributions in the third chapter of this book.