Research on university-business links has mostly focused on knowledge exchange and collaboration. This is due to previous case studies of successful regional economies where this type of interaction has been shown to be a catalyst for business growth and continuous innovation (Vallance, 2016). What is sometimes not addressed in this literature is that such interactions tend to be supported by a thick and/or well-connected institutional infrastructure which is difficult to replicate (Trippl, Asheim, & Miorner, 2015). They are, therefore, less likely to function as catalysts for innovation in regions where this is not present. The main contribution of this paper will be to show that the training and supply of human capital is a very relevant, yet relatively neglected, dimension of university-business interactions that can have a positive impact on innovation and growth in less-developed regions (LDRs) (Camagni & Capello, 2013). On an individual level, the acquisition of human capital allows professionals to access knowledge produced in more advanced regions and transfer it to firms located in LDRs (Pill, Bristow, Davies, & Drinkwater, 2011). At the organizational level, this