Technology Transfer in Italy: Results of a Survey on University Departments

Abstract

Muscio The aim of this paper is to assess the role played by Italian universities in the governance of technology transfer processes. Based on a survey of interviews with 194 directors of university departments, the paper examines how knowledge is transferred from university departments to firms, identifying the determinants of university-industry collaborations and the main obstacles. The paper also determines the role played by university technology transfer offices in supporting collaborations. The empirical evidence reported here shows that in the case of Italian universities technology transfer activities are frequent and take place in many forms. Technology transfer is performed via direct contact between universities and firms and the role of technology transfer offices in promoting university-industry collaborations is marginal.