Are Spanish TTOs Prepared to Innovation in a COVID Context?

Tamara Rodríguez-González,Mercedes Villanueva-Flores,Mirta Díaz-Fernández,Mariluz Fernández-Alles

doi:10.3390/su13168688

Tamara Rodríguez-González, Mercedes Villanueva-Flores + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/su13168688

Copy DOI

Abstract

The analysis of the characteristics of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) is particularly important as they constitute mediating units in the relationship between the market and university research. They are responsible for the transfer and exploitation of knowledge arising in the university context. Previous studies have been inconclusive as to the importance that the size, professionalisation or age of TTOs might have on the transfer process. However, the need to explore new markets, recognise new opportunities and identify potential customers points to the importance of TTOs having a dual exploitative and exploratory orientation and an extensive relational network. More recent research in the literature, based on ambidexterity and network theory, points to the impact that these variables could have on change management and innovation in uncertain and changing environments, such as those faced by TTOs in the current pandemic context. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to analyse whether Spanish TTOs, due to their ambidextrous orientation at the organisational and individual level, and their relational network with academic and market actors, are prepared to promote innovation in a COVID-19 context. Based on a cluster analysis of 29 Spanish TTOs, our results show that just a few of the Spanish TTOs surveyed would be prepared, from the perspective of ambidexterity and their relational capital, to promote innovation in a COVID-19 context. In conclusion, Spanish TTOs and their employees should focus more on ambidexterity and building extensive relational capital so that, through mentoring, training, incubation or the provision of various resources, they can help academics take advantage of the innovation opportunities offered by the changing and uncertain environment.

Highlights

The transfer of knowledge arising in universities and its commercial exploitation in the market, has gained considerable attention in recent years [1,2] as it is considered to be a source of innovation, competitiveness, new employment opportunities, as well as an economic and social development in the regions in which it operates [3,4,5]
Inspired by the work of [46] on organisational ambidexterity, we propose that Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), with ambidextrous orientation, study the capacity of these units to exploit the services they offer, while simultaneously exploring new ideas and services to propose to academics and companies
The rwg shows whether different respondents from the same organisation agree in their assessments of the exploratory and exploitative orientation, of both the TTO and its members, as well as their academic and market relational capital

Summary

Introduction

The transfer of knowledge arising in universities and its commercial exploitation in the market, has gained considerable attention in recent years [1,2] as it is considered to be a source of innovation, competitiveness, new employment opportunities, as well as an economic and social development in the regions in which it operates [3,4,5]. Incubation, training and networking, TTOs provide a number of critical resources for technology transfer [15,16] These offices identify market opportunities, assist in the development of business plans, conduct market research and use their resources to build strong networks, reducing the barriers between academics and industry. They encourage invention disclosures, manage patent grants, advise on appropriate commercialization strategies and assist academics in the commercialization process [15,16,17,18]. In the current context of the pandemic, where the innovative capacity of companies is considered crucial for their

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion