International university-university technology transfer: Strategic management framework

Abstract

International technology transfer between universities is an emerging phenomenon and contributes to the socio-economic development of regions and countries. Technology transfer concerns transactions or long-term collaborations between acquirers and suppliers of technology. Based on strategic management theory, this study constructs a framework on the international technology transfer between universities. We theorize on the entry mode and pathway towards collaboration and apply the theoretical constructs to the cases of China and the Western economies, i.e., Europe and the US. By comparing the Chinese and Western perspective, we observe different entry modes and pathways of international university-university technology transfer. With regard to entry mode, the dominant Chinese perspective is to enter international technology transfer collaborations formally and with substantial resource commitments, while the dominant Western perspective suggests a more informal entry mode without the creation of a new entity. The Chinese pathway of international university-university collaborations on technology transfer is based on generating mutual confidence through formal arrangements and on replacing formal safeguards by informal arrangement as the collaboration matures, while the Western perspective suggests formalizing collaborations through a greater commitment of resources, which reduces managerial problems and allows collaborative learning.