Strategic alliances for advanced materials' intellectual property value chain: research and technology organisation's perspective

Abstract

Intellectual property value chains (IPVCs) comprise exploratory studies, laboratory demonstration, field tests, transfer and/or commercialisation of technologies. Strategic technological alliances (STAs) between different organisations aim at strengthening the IPVCs. This phenomenon has influenced research and technology organisations (RTOs) due to their important role in the IPVCs. Characteristics of technology area, e.g., advanced materials technology (AMT) for this paper, play a crucial role for such alliances. An RTO shall be responsible for arranging complementary assets during exploratory studies, laboratory demonstration and field test stages, while commercialising entity shall be responsible for assembly of complementary assets for competitive manufacturing and marketing. In this paper, an attempt has been made to develop two-step process including: 1) assessment of the level of technology development using intellectual property development indices (IPDIs) for advanced materials technologies; 2) proposing a matrix to assist RTOs in identifying the useful partners from industry, academia and R&D.