Technology Transfer Performance Research Articles

Evaluation of technology transfer performance for Chinese universities based on a dual-game cross-efficiency model

The existing studies that measure the performance of university technology transfer have primarily treated technology transfer as an independent process, neglecting the competitive dynamics within universities and between universities. To bridge this gap, we extend the existing data envelopment analysis (DEA) game models by introducing an innovative dual-game cross-efficiency model. This model comprehensively accounts for the competitive interactions between university research and technology transfer, as well as the competition among universities, measuring technology transfer efficiency within a more integrated competition framework. The efficiency derived from our model integrates both self-evaluation of sub-stages within DMUs and peer-evaluation from other DMUs, making it more acceptable to both internal and external evaluated units. Employing this model, we assessed the efficiencies of technology transfer and research of universities across 30 Chinese provinces. Our analysis reveals that the average efficiency of technology transfer among Chinese universities is 0.3321, which is significantly lower than the average research efficiency of 0.6536. Additionally, the study uncovers significant regional disparities in the efficiency of university technology transfer, indicating a need for tailored strategies to enhance efficiencies in various universities. Finally, comparison with traditional models demonstrates the superiority of our model in both acceptability and comprehensiveness.

Conceptualizing a Seamless Model of Technology Transfer: Evidence from Public Research Institutes and Universities in Indonesia

Technology transfer (TT) is essential in transforming and mobilizing technological knowledge from public research institutes (PRIs) and universities into innovations. The concept of TT has become the center of scholarly attention since implementing the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980. In its progression, TT models and practices varied across organizations. The standard adopted model at Indonesian PRIs and universities is the dissemination model. This classic model is problematic yet suitable for technological knowledge production within these organizations. Consequently, TT performance could be better; only a few technologies were successfully commercialized and became innovations. Meanwhile, most research results ended as publications and new intellectual properties. Therefore, a new model needs to enhance the TT processes. This study uses a multiple-case study approach to conceptualize a “seamless” technology transfer model. This model provides a holistic view of processes and components of technology transfer in the dimensions of knowledge creation, diffusion, and absorption, which are intertwined. The model differs from the existing concept that segregates components in each dimension; it allows actors and determinants to be involved (or utilized) in multiple dimensions to cater to a better TT process.

The duality of the influence of basic research and applied research on technology transfer performance: evidence from Chinese universities

ABSTRACT This paper addresses the question of how basic research and applied research independently and interdependently affect technology transfer performance. Using the data of 673 universities in mainland China over 2008-2017, we verify that basic and applied research are critical antecedents of university technology transfer. This study further explores whether the interdependent effect of these two types of research on technology transfer performance is synergistic or antagonistic, and finds empirical support for the antagonistic view. Additionally, university-industry connections and the diversity of disciplines are considered as heterogeneity factors that influence the effectiveness of reconciling the two types of research to enhance technology transfer performance. Our empirical results indicate that science parks can alleviate the antagonistic joint influence of basic and applied research on technology transfer performance. Inconsistent with our prediction, no significant disparities exist between comprehensive universities and non-comprehensive ones in this joint influence. This paper contributes to the literature on university technology transfer within the Triple Helix framework by sheding light on the pressures behind reconciling the excellence in basic research and the pursuit of practical application of research outputs during the process of advancing university technology transfer in the context of China.

Sustainability performance of multinational companies in Malaysia

This study investigated the influence of market environment, cultural distance, government policy, and absorptive capacity on international intra-firm technology transfer and organizational sustainability performance among subsidiaries of foreign-based multinational corporations (MNCs) in Malaysia. Quantitative data was collected from randomly selected 252 MNC-Subsidiaries in Malaysia. Data analysis revealed that market environment, determined by market dynamism and competitors' intensity; cultural distance determined by national and organizational cultural distance; along with absorptive capacity, captured by the constructs of ability and motivation have a significant positive effect on intra-firm technology transfer. The study also revealed a significant positive influence of intra-firm technology transfer on organizational sustainability performance across the sample. Furthermore, the results showed a significant indirect effect of market environment, cultural distance, and absorptive capacity on sustainability performance through (mediation) intra-firm technology transfer. The results of this study could serve as a specific reference for policymakers of rapidly emerging economies in order to strengthen policies for a more dynamic, competitive, market and support their citizens to acquire relevant education, skills, and cultural awareness that would enhance technological inflows leading towards improved organizational sustainability.

Examining the efficiency of regional university technology transfer in China: A mixed-integer generalized data envelopment analysis framework

In university technology transfer performance assessment, some variables, such as labor and contracts, must be treated as integer-valued variables. Usually, the reference points obtained by the conventional data envelopment analysis (DEA) method are unrealistic when one of the input/output measures is an integer value. As a result, several integer DEA models have been proposed over the last decade. However, these models are based only on self-evaluation. In some cases, when a large gap exists between the best- and worst-performing units, the improvement path based on self-evaluation can be inappropriate. To overcome this issue, we propose a mixed-integer generalized DEA model based on peer evaluation to evaluate the efficiency level of regional university technology transfer in China. A sample of 27 provinces in China from 2008 to 2015 is used in the study. The results reveal that the eastern region, on average, obtained the highest level of efficiency among the three regions in China, whereas the western region presented a poor efficiency level. This is consistent with the current stage of development. Several recommendations are suggested for promoting technology transfer in the western region.

Outsourcing university research commercialization to a sophisticated technology transfer office: Evidence from Australian universities

A better understanding of how university technology transfer can be effectively achieved is critical for increasing the impact of academic research and driving innovation and economic growth. Considering this and the rapidly growing public policy attention on university-generated technology transfer, we provide evidence on the effect of outsourcing commercialization tasks on technology transfer performance. Using both qualitative and data-driven methods, we find that universities which outsourced to an established tech-transfer office of another university saw a greater opportunity for academics to engage with research commercialization and experienced a short-term increase in the capture of new discoveries and provisional patent filings. However, with respect to the more popular indicators of successful commercialization, patent applications, granted patents, license deals, and start-ups created, we find no evidence of an increase. Post-outsourcing we see evidence of a sustained advantage in some technology transfer activities, indicating a learning effect from engaging with a more experienced tech-transfer office.

University Technology Transfer from a Knowledge-Flow Approach—Systematic Literature Review

This study aims to review and synthesize the rapidly evolving literature on technology transfer from universities, and the concepts and models included in it, from a knowledge-flow approach to find the factors contributing to its performance. This article provides a perspective on recent work, focusing on empirical studies on technology transfer in universities conducted in the last 32 years from a knowledge-based vision. The study was carried out from a systematic literature review in the Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and SpringerLink databases on 135 articles selected and evaluated by peers from critical surveillance factors such as technology transfer, knowledge flow, and university–industry relationship, among others. It was possible to identify 75 factors that, from a knowledge-based vision and specifically from a knowledge-flow approach, permit and contribute to the performance of technology transfer generated from research processes in universities. We classified studies into four categories according to their approaches, each with their dimensions and factors: management of knowledge, resources and capabilities, management of technological transfer, and the university–industry relationship. This classification permitted not only identification but also the systematization of the different factors and related authors that, from a knowledge-flow approach, contribute to the performance of technological transfers in universities, reflecting their efficiency and effectiveness. In this respect, absorption capacity and open innovation are topics which are worthy of exploration.

Influence of Corporate Culture on the Performance of Technology Transfer in ERP Implementation Projects – A Case Study

"ENGINEER", established in 1973 by The Institution of Engineers, is a Journal for dissemination of Engineering knowledge, published quarterly.If you are interested in contributing an Original Technical Paper based on research by the author(s) (intended for Section I) or an Original Article of Professional or Technical interest related to Engineering. (Section II) to this journal please go through the publication checklist which can be downloaded from here.Cover DescriptionCover images show a few views of the Maduru Oya reservoir and construction of right bank canal. The Institution of Engineers, Sri Lanka, acknowledges Eng. L.D. Amila Sanjeewa of the Department of Irrigation for providing images and related information of the project.

The Success Factors of Technology Transfer and Firm Performance of SMEs in Malaysia

The Success Factors of Technology Transfer and Firm Performance of SMEs in Malaysia

Research on the Impact of Incentive Measures on the Performance of Efficient Technology Transfer

In the era of "big science", science and technology are gradually commercialized. Governments, enterprises and other organizations have invested a lot of financial, human and institutional resources in colleges and universities to help colleges and universities to transform technological achievements. However, the rate of technology transfer in my country is still not high. Therefore, this article focuses on identifying factors that affect technology transfer and proposes countermeasures to improve technology transfer performance, constructing incentive measures, psychological ownership, market orientation, and efficient technology transfer performance models, and discussing the impact of university incentives on technology transfer performance. The conclusion shows that: incentive measures have a positive impact on the performance of university technology transfer; psychological ownership plays a part of the intermediary role between incentive measures and university technology transfer performance, that is, incentive measures can have a direct impact on university technology transfer performance, or through psychological ownership. It has an indirect impact; the market orientation positively regulates the relationship between psychological ownership and the performance of university technology transfer. Identify key factors and provide reasonable enlightenment for colleges and universities to improve the performance of technology transfer.

Vertical Partnerships Between OEM And First Tier: Lessons From Automotive Component Companies In Greater Jakarta-Indonesia

Research Aims: This research aimed to investigate vertical partnerships between Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) and first-tier automotive component firms based on the relationships between technology transfer, technical exchange, government role and supplier performance in the Greater Jakarta area. Design/Methodology/Approach: A total of 65 respondent firms participated, comprising 6 OEMs and 59 first-tier firms. The research included site visits and interviews with companies based on questionnaires completed by representative individuals from middle management upward with responsibility for assessing product quality (purposive sampling). The questionnaire results were measured using Partial Least Squares Path Modelling (PLS-PM). Research Findings: The results highlighted significant relationships between government role and technology transfer (p-value = 0.00), government role and supplier performance improvement (p-value = 0.017), and technical exchange and supplier performance improvement (p-value = 0.077). However, no significant relationship was found between technology transfer and supplier performance improvement (p-value = 0.353). Theoretical Contribution/Originality: Understanding the vertical relations between OEMs and first-tier automotive component firms in Indonesia. Managerial Implications in the South East Asian Context: Solid relationships between OEMs and first-tier companies in Greater Jakarta, Indonesia are especially triggered by the increasing tendency for local component use (TKDN/Domestic Component Level). Research limitation & Implications: The research examined vertical relationships between OEMs and first-tier firms, notably between technology transfer and supplier performance improvement, technical exchange and supplier performance improvement, government role and technology transfer, and government and supplier performance improvement.

The impact of policy perception on technology transfer from boundary-spanning perspective-empirical evidence from Chinese technological enterprises.

Technology transfer is an essential source of technological innovation for enterprises, which is conducive to the market transformation of patent achievements and the commercial application of new technologies. Building upon social capital theory, all data analyses were performed using SPSS 22.0 and Amos software with the multiple linear regression method. The study explores the mechanism of policy perception to obtain the technical resources needed for enterprise development through boundary-spanning behavior, with a moderating effect of inter-organizational trust and technological potential gap. The study uses survey data from 125 enterprise teams of 42 technology-based enterprises in China. The results show that policy perceived usefulness and usability significantly promote technology transfer performance and boundary-spanning behavior plays a mediating role between them. Speaking of the influencing factors of technology transfer, technological potential gap significantly moderates the relationship between boundary-spanning and technology transfer performance. In contrast, inter-organizational trust positively moderates the relationship between boundary-spanning and technology transfer performance. The research provides theoretical reference and guidance for enterprises on using policy perception better to improve technology transfer performance in the institutional environment. It also helps inspire enterprises to better deal with the cooperative relationship between relevant stakeholders and achieve win-win cooperation.

Effects of incorporating public innovation intermediaries on technology transfer performance: evidence from patent licensing of Japan’s Kohsetsushi

The incorporation of public organizations is meant to improve their efficiency and contribution to national and local economies. In Japan, incorporation has been implemented at the national and local levels since the late 1990s. This process alters the incentive system comprising intellectual property (IP) ownership, managerial freedom, and rent sharing, which promotes IP commercialization. This study assesses the economic consequences of the incentive system reform, taking the example of a public innovation intermediary, Kohsetsushi. Unlike the incorporation of national universities, the incorporation of Kohsetsushi is at the discretion of local governments. Therefore, there should be a comparative advantage for both incorporated and unincorporated Kohsetsushi. A dataset representative of both types of Kohsetsushi was established to estimate the average treatment effects on the treated (ATT), identify the type of selection into incorporation, and discuss the economic consequences of endogenous selection by local governments. The counterfactual analysis of licensing income revealed a negative ATT of incorporation and negative selection into not choosing incorporation. Incorporated Kohsetsushi would have had higher licensing income had they not been incorporated. The evidence does not support comparative advantage. The unintended consequence might have been caused by the lack of harmonization between the incentive and evaluation systems.

Not just numbers! Improving TTO performance by balancing the soft sides of the TQM

PurposeThis study investigates the role of “soft” factors of total quality management – in terms of empowerment and engagement of employees – in facilitating or hindering organizational performance of the university technology transfer offices.Design/methodology/approachThe authors developed an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), multiple regression model to test if empowerment and engagement affect organizational performance of the university technology transfer offices.FindingsThe authors found that “soft” factors of total quality management – in terms of empowerment and engagement – facilitate the improvement of organizational performance in university technology transfer offices.Practical implicationsThe authors’ analysis shows that soft total quality management practices create the conditions for improving organizational performance. This study provides practical implications by showing that, in the evaluation of the technology transfer office, not only the “hard” variables (e.g. number of employees and employee experience) but also the “soft” one (e.g. empowerment and engagement) matter. Therefore, university technology transfer managers or university technology transfer delegates should take actions to promote not only empowering employees but also create a climate conducive to employees' engagement in the university technology transfer offices.Originality/valueWith regards to the differences in organizational performances of university technology transfer offices, several studies have focused their attention on technology transfer professionals in technology transfer offices, but only a few of them have examined the “soft side” of total quality management. Thus, this study examines the organizational goals of technology transfer offices through “soft” factors of total quality management in terms of empowerment and engagement employees.

University–Industry Technology Transfer: Empirical Findings from Chinese Industrial Firms

The knowledge and innovation generated by researchers at universities is transferred to industries through patent licensing, leading to the commercialization of academic output. In order to investigate the development of Chinese university–industry technology transfer and whether this kind of collaboration may affect a firm’s innovation output, we collected approximately 6400 license contracts made between more than 4000 Chinese firms and 300 Chinese universities for the period between 2009 and 2014. This is the first study on Chinese university–industry knowledge transfer using a bipartite social network analysis (SNA) method, which emphasizes centrality estimates. We are able to investigate empirically how patent license transfer behavior may affect each firm’s innovative output by allocating a centrality score to each firm in the university–firm technology transfer network. We elucidate the academic–industry knowledge by visualizing flow patterns for different regions with the SNA tool, Gephi. We find that innovation capabilities, R&D resources, and technology transfer performance all vary across China, and that patent licensing networks present clear small-world phenomena. We also highlight the Bipartite Graph Reinforcement Model (BGRM) and BiRank centrality in the bipartite network. Our empirical results reveal that firms with high BGRM and BiRank centrality scores, long history, and fewer employees have greater innovative output.

Firm’s Technological Capabilities towards Technology Transfer Performance in Malaysian Manufacturing Companies: The Antecedents That Lead to Successful Development of Firm’s Technological Capabilities

Drawing upon Resource-Based View (RBV) theory, this research investigates the effect of technological capabilities on the performance of technology transfer activities in Malaysian manufacturing firms. This research also empirically examines the antecedents that lead to the development of a firm’s technological capabilities. The data were obtained from 133 manufacturing companies in Malaysia by means of questionnaires. As predicted, the results indicated that the firm’s technological capabilities significantly related to technology transfer performance and all the antecedents are chosen positively influenced the firm’s technological capabilities development.

The transfer of technology from the organizational viewpoint

The transfer of technology from the organizational viewpoint

Technology transfer performance of public research institutes: the case of Romania

PurposeThis study was aimed at testing whether the technology transfer performance of Romanian public research institutes—measured as the ability to generate patented technology—was positively related to institutional, human, commercial and financial factors.Design/methodology/approachA non-negative integer count data model was implemented to investigate a large sample of Romanian public research institutes in the period 2012–2019.FindingsThe results confirmed the positive influence of qualified human resources and commercial resources (technology transfer offices and spinoffs). Institutional factors were also relevant alongside the research field.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper has limitations inherent to an investigation conducted in an emerging economy, with a low innovative culture and little interest in technology transfer. Although the analysis focused on a specific country, the findings obtained may be extended to other contexts.Practical implicationsTo increase their technology transfer, managers of public research institutes and governmental authorities are suggested to implement structural changes and incentives regarding the skilled human capital, the entrepreneurial knowledge and efforts, and the provision of financial resources.Social implicationsResults showed that emerging innovator countries, such as Romania, should stimulate human capital to get involved in commercial activities, as interactions between public research institutes and the private sector generate economic, social, and environmental benefits.Originality/valueThis study concentrated on the performance evaluation of research and development activities carried out by public research institutes. Therefore, it contributes to a broad strand of literature which has essentially focused on universities, paying less attention to the contributions to scientific research of other organisations, such as public research institutes.

Exploring the role of R&D collaborations and non-patent IP policies in government technology transfer performance: Evidence from U.S. federal agencies (1999-2016).

Around the world, governments make substantial investments in public sector research and development (R&D) entities and activities to generate major scientific and technical advances that may catalyze long-term economic growth. Institutions ranging from the Chinese Academy of Sciences to the French National Centre for Scientific Research to the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers conduct basic and applied R&D to create commercially valuable knowledge that supports the innovation goals of their respective government sponsors. Globally, the single largest public sector R&D sponsor is the U.S. federal government. In 2019 alone, the U.S. government allocated over $14.9 billion to federally funded research and development centers (FFRDCs), also known as national labs. However, little is known about how federal agencies’ utilization of FFRDCs, their modes of R&D collaboration, and their adoption of non-patent intellectual property (IP) policies (copyright protection and materials transfer agreements) affect agency-level performance in technology transfer. In particular, the lack of standardized metrics for quantitatively evaluating government entities’ effectiveness in managing innovation is a critical unresolved issue. We address this issue by conducting exploratory empirical analyses of federal agencies’ innovation management activities using both supply-side (filing ratio, transfer rate, and licensing success rate) and demand-side (licensing income and portfolio exclusivity) outcome metrics. We find economically significant effects of external R&D collaborations and non-patent IP policies on the technology transfer performance of 10 major federal executive branch agencies (fiscal years 1999–2016). We discuss the scholarly, managerial, and policy implications for ongoing and future evaluations of technology transfer at federal labs. We offer new insights and guidance on how critical differences in federal agencies’ interpretation and implementation of their R&D management practices in pursuit of their respective missions affect their technology transfer performance outcomes. We generalize key findings to address the broader innovation processes of public sector R&D entities worldwide.

THE IMPORTANCE OF ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY IN TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Over the years, the literature on management has advanced in the understanding of the relationship between technology transfer, absorptive capacity and organisational performance. Nevertheless, to date, the number of studies investigating these relationships in a joint manner, showing how the result varies in different contexts, is still rare. This systematic literature review analyses the existing academic literature on the relationship between technology transfer, absorptive capacity and organisational performance by carrying out a bibliometric and qualitative analysis of the literature. The bibliometric analysis provided an overview of the literature, identifying the most prominent and influent journals, countries, institutions, authors and research methods, as well as intersections between the constructs and the temporal evolution of the publications. The qualitative analysis was employed in order to understand, systematise and assess the previous findings on the subjects. The results showed that absorptive capacity is an important factor for effective technology transfer, when taking into account international technology transfer, university-industry collaboration and inter-organisational transfer. The literature converges in indicating that both technology transfer and absorptive capacity have a positive impact on organisational performance, although some existing exceptions need to be considered. Finally, the study provides an agenda for future research based on contextual, methodological and theoretical gaps identified.