University Technology Transfer Research Articles

The Role of Technology Maturity Level in the Occurrence of University Technology Transfer

The Role of Technology Maturity Level in the Occurrence of University Technology Transfer

University technology transfer offices' capabilities in responding to societal challenges: lessons from an exploratory study during the COVID-19 pandemic

University technology transfer offices' capabilities in responding to societal challenges: lessons from an exploratory study during the COVID-19 pandemic

EXPLORING ENTREPRENEURIAL UNIVERSITIES: A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS IN THE BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT FIELDS

The following paper features a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the available literature concerning entrepreneurial universities in the business and management fields. Through scientific databases of Web of Science, 511 papers were ensured and systematically compiled using Bibliometrix-an RStudio package for performance analytics and Science Mapping. It reveals the history of contributing authors, institutions, themes, and geographic focus of articles, published in the field of entrepreneurial universities. The findings show that the topic in question has been gaining more and more attention in recent decades and more publications have been increasingly produced. It revealed renowned writers including Henry Etzkowitz, Loet Leydesdorff, David Audretsch, and distinguished universities including Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Cambridge. Qualitative content analysis identifies several broad research themes, such as university business relations, technology transfer and commercialization, entrepreneurship teaching, and policy. In addition, they emphasize the global significance of entrepreneurial universities based on the contributions of researchers and institutions from around the world. As demonstrated by the United States and Europe being the most productive and relevant regions, it is also imperative that the Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Africa also offer impressive entrepreneurial output contributing to innovation and economic growth in various geographical environments. Consequently, the results of this study hold important implications for policymakers, educators, and practice in the areas of higher education and entrepreneurship. Policy makers can employ them to formulate better policies and frameworks that will be helpful for entrepreneurial universities and the development of innovation regimes. They can utilise the findings to enhance the curriculum and the programs which could foster the entrepreneurial disposition and skills among students. The study findings will be useful to practitioners such as university administrators and leaders from other sectors to understand and address the drivers of entrepreneurship and technology transfer. In sum, this research serves to extend the body of knowledge and guide policy/ practice in the area of entrepreneurial universities.

Science and technology evaluation reform and universities’ innovation performance

Does science and technology evaluation (STE) policy reform improve universities' innovation performance? Research typically argues that more upstream R&D investment leads to more downstream innovation performance, but it is less clear what the trade-offs over time might be for targeted investments in universities influenced by STE reform. In 2013, China proposed STE reform measures focused on ‘innovation quality, efficiency, and contribution’. Using a difference-in-differences research design on a comprehensive longitudinal database of 62 universities spanning from 2009 to 2016, we show that this STE policy positively affects university basic research outputs and quality but weakens applied research outputs. This effect is pronounced in pilot universities with better resources. Empirical evidence suggests that the STE policy works mainly through mobilising the enthusiasm of human capital, improving R&D intensity in science and technology funds, and promoting industrialisation-oriented R&D projects. We consider the following possible perspectives on the mechanisms of change: knowledge asset development, economic competition, and a socio-political process. This analysis leads to theoretical developments about how basic versus applied science produces outputs in the Chinese context. The paper also shows that the STE policy promotes technology transfer in universities.

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.

Institutional frameworks that guide research integrity and security towards protection of IP and management of technology transfer in universities in Kenya

Kenya’s higher education system is expanding at a very rapid rate. This is reflected in the increasing number of public and private universities, the expansion of existing universities, and the proliferation of online education services. Further, these universities have been increasingly expected to transcend their conventional teaching and research missions to contribute directly and indirectly to solving social and environmental challenges and generate knowledge of economic relevance to society. The teaching and research missions of a university are important, especially on a continent whose population is young and growing rapidly. Demand for higher education is likely to remain high.

An Investigation of the Mechanisms of Technology Transfer and Automation in Universities: A Case Study on Promoting Entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystems at Bangladesh Open University

This study conducts a thorough analysis of the processes involved in technology transfer, automation, and entrepreneurship at Bangladesh Open University (BOU), using a qualitative research methodology. The study utilizes thematic analysis, supported by NVivo, to extract valuable insights from interviews with 30 important stakeholders, including academics, students, and administrators. The results indicate moderate achievements in the transfer of technology, characterized by difficulties in commercializing university research and developing robust industry connections. Within the field of automation, the study emphasizes the important role it plays in improving access to education, while also acknowledging the difficulties created by limited digital skills and unequal distribution of resources. The expansion of the entrepreneurship ecosystem at BOU is clearly visible, but, it is limited by a requirement for stronger support systems, namely in the areas of mentorship and funding. These qualitative views provide a detailed and subtle viewpoint on how BOU aligns with or deviates from well-known ideas like the Triple Helix Model and Academic Entrepreneurship Theory. They emphasize the distinct problems and opportunities that arise in an open university environment. The study’s results make significant contributions to scholarly discussions, highlighting the importance of customized approaches in incorporating technology and fostering entrepreneurial growth in higher education, particularly in the context of developing nations.

The Impact of Regional Patent Policies on University Technology Transfer: Empirical Evidence from China

The Impact of Regional Patent Policies on University Technology Transfer: Empirical Evidence from China

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.

Opinion: Do universities help or hurt innovation?

Opinion: Do universities help or hurt innovation? Do Universities help or hurt innovation? Find out in this 25-year academic entrepreneur’s anecdotal perspective of starting companies and developing implants. Thomas J. Webster shares his opinion here. Top research U.S. Universities and others worldwide, sometimes along with respective government funding agencies (like the NSF and the NIH in the U.S.), have spent billions of dollars trying to translate their faculty’s research to industry to develop real commercial products. Whether establishing University technology transfer offices (whose objective is to foster faculty research translation), paying IP lawyer fees for patents, establishing incubator spaces for University faculty spin-out companies, or issuing grants aimed at research primed for industry adoption, it is clear that U.S. Universities are in the high stakes and high funding game of entrepreneurship, and have been so for the last several decades.

Understanding the Complexities: Interrelationships of Critical Barriers to University Technology Transfer in Vietnam Using T-Spherical Fuzzy MCDM Approach

Understanding the Complexities: Interrelationships of Critical Barriers to University Technology Transfer in Vietnam Using T-Spherical Fuzzy MCDM Approach

FOSTERING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AWARENESS IN ACADEMIC ENTREPRENEURSHIP

The importance of Intellectual Property (IP) in academic entrepreneurship, emphasises a need for specialised knowledge of IP law in university Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), and general awareness of IP rules amongst university researchers, research assistants, and other university personnel. This helps not only in preventing the inadvertent loss of valuable IP, but also the infringement of IP owned by other parties, which could result in costly law suits. Equally, knowledge of IP law is indispensable to the effective negotiation of licences, and the drafting of contracts that cater for the interests of both universities and industry. The objective of this article is, accordingly, to provide academic entrepreneurs with insights into IP regimes. This should help them in identifying valuable IP, and in ensuring that protection is not compromised. It will also help in determining the modes of protection suitable for particular forms of IP, how to manage acquired rights, and tackle infringements. In the following sections, we discuss these issues from the perspectives of several jurisdictions. Traversing our discussion is an examination of university IP policies, and relevant case law, which should enhance understanding. The last segment of the article concludes and reiterates the importance of IP awareness in academic entrepreneurship. Therefore, this article aims at fostering awareness of IP regimes amongst academic entrepreneurs.

University patent litigation in the United States: Do we have a problem?

In an attempt to increase revenues from patenting activities, some universities have started in recent years to pursue “overzealous” strategies to monetize their existing patents, by selling them to the highest bidder and enforcing them in court. In this paper we find quantitative evidence that patent litigation has an adverse effect on university technology transfer activities, reinforcing prior findings by Shane and Somaya (2007). However, we empirically show that universities do not litigate aggressively over patent infringement: not only do they litigate much less than patent assertion entities (PAEs), but we also observe no increase in terms of their propensity to litigate over the last two decades. Nor do we find any evidence of aggressive litigation strategies.

Co-designing doctoral programs to enhance postgraduate students' employability: insights from industry stakeholders

PurposeDoctoral programs play a crucial role in promoting innovation and technology transfer in universities. To design these programs effectively and with a co-design perspective, it is essential to consider all stakeholders involved in the process, including teachers, students and employers. The main objective of this study is to enhance postgraduate programs to improve students' employability.Design/methodology/approachThis empirical study was conducted over a three-year period and employed semi-structured interviews as its primary research methodology. In the first phase, 21 in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers from various sectors. The second phase involved 20 interviews, and the final phase of the study included 18 interviews with the same managers from previous phases.FindingsThe study's main results revealed that the international networks, language proficiency and analytical skills of doctoral students were highly valued by employers. The main findings come from companies with doctoral students. Therefore, the skills were identified during the learning experience of the PhD graduates in the companies.Practical implicationsThe study's results can guide improvements in postgraduate program curricula and design to enhance students' employability.Originality/valueThis research presents a novel approach to its findings. On the one hand, the study's conclusions may provide valuable insights for business agents, encouraging them to hire PhD students. On the other hand, it aims to drive necessary changes that promote more PhD students' focus on non-academic careers, creating significant value for research and innovation in the private sector.

Motivational factors for patenting: A study of the Brazilian researchers profile

The motivation that leads researchers to engage in patenting and licensing activities is a complex topic that needs to be further investigated, especially in emerging countries. In Brazil, universities stand out as the main patent depositors, being important actors in the country's technological development process. The objective of this study is to present the profile of researchers from Brazilian universities and the motivational factors that lead them to patent the results of their research. Based on a literature review, 27 factors were identified, which were classified according to the nature of motivation and expected results. Data from curricula vitae were collected to verify the researchers' academic and sociodemographic profile. A survey was conducted to measure the importance attributed to different motivational factors. The results show that, in addition to the royalties established in Brazilian legislation, universities need to provide other conditions and incentives to engage more researchers in patenting and licensing activities. Therefore, this study can provide subsidies for the formulation of policies aimed at promoting innovation and technology transfer in Brazilian universities.

University Technology transfer: from the invention disclosure to the licensing agreement

University Technology transfer: from the invention disclosure to the licensing agreement

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.

(Invited) Iron Flow Battery with Slurry Electrode for Large Scale Energy Storage: Scale-up, Commercialization, and IP Challenges in an Academic Environment

Large-scale energy storage is required to meet a multitude of current energy challenges. These challenges include modernizing the grid, incorporating intermittent renewable energy sources (so as to dispatch continuous electrical energy), improving the efficiency of electricity transmission and distribution, and providing flexibility of storage independent of geographical and geological location.Through efforts supported by ARPA-E and the Department of Energy Office of Electricity, one technology we are developing utilizes an approach based on sustainable, low cost iron electrolytes in an iron flow battery (IFB). Advantages of the IFB include abundant, non-toxic, and non-corrosive materials that are used to provide an energy storage solution that has inherently safe operation and is environmentally friendly. In our approach to the all iron RFB, we introduced a flowing carbon slurry as the negative electrode as a substrate for plating iron during charging allowing storage of the plated iron in a tank external to the stack. This configuration decouples energy and power capacities. The work supported by DOE allowed us to address challenges encountered in scaling up from small laboratory cells to a large commercial size slurry IFB single cell. 1 In this presentation, we will address some of the challenges we encountered for demonstrating the technology within an academic environment in order to position it for commercial development. Even with funding to overcome the valley-of-death and technology-to-market assistance given by ARPA-E, we faced many challenges including hiring expertise to address scale-up, design and testing. We will discuss challenges faced with identifying partners and licensees for moving discovery to product. Also, we will describe the many types of interactions we had with the university Technology Transfer Office including patent disclosure, IP protection, and negotiating licenses. Acknowledgements: This research was supported by ARPA-E contract DE-AR0000352. Partial support also was received from the DOE Office of Electricity Award #1111358,0 under Dr. Imre Gyuk. 1N.S. Sinclair, R.F. Savinell and J.S. Wainright, MRS Energy & Sustainability, 2022; doi: 10.1557/s43581-022-00046-8

New product development process and case studies for deep-tech academic research to commercialization

This research proposes a new product development (NPD) framework for innovation-driven deep-tech research to commercialization and tested it with three case studies of different exploitation methods. The proposed framework, called Augmented Stage-Gate, integrates the next-generation Agile Stage-Gate development process with lean startup and design thinking approaches. The framework consists of six stages and five gates and focuses on critical thinking to help entrepreneurs avoid psychological traps and make the right decisions. Early activities focus on scouting for potential socioeconomically impactful deep-tech research, developing a business case, market analysis, and strategy for problem–solution fit, and then, moving to a build–measure–learn activity with a validated learning feedback loop. Next, suitable exploitation methods are decided using weight factor analysis, developing intellectual property (IP) strategy, completing the university technology transfer process, and participating in fundraising. To pass each gate, the committee board members, consisting of tech, business, IP and regulatory, and domain experts, will evaluate the passing criteria to decide Go/No-Go. Applying the framework to the case studies results in successful university research commercialization. The model, case study, and lessons learned in this paper can be useful for other deep-tech incubator programs to successfully launch deep-tech research for commercialization. The case studies’ positive outcomes validate the Augmented Stage-Gate framework, yet their success is not entirely guaranteed due to external factors like regulatory constraints, entrepreneur characteristics, timing, and the necessary ecosystem or infrastructure, particularly in emerging markets. These factors should be taken into account for future research purposes.

Factors, Routes, and Existing Theories of Technology Commercialization in University: A Conceptual Framework

<p>Technology commercialization in universities which consists of three phases, namely basic research, commercialization feasibility, and commercialization runs non-linearly and goes through licensing and spin-off creation. To achieve commercialization success, there are eight influencing factors, namely academic entrepreneur, role of technology, availability of market, availability of finance, intermediaries' support (i.e. University Technology Transfer Office (UTTO), university's incubator, and proof of concept center), role of collaborative research center, policy support, and regional infrastructure and environment. Meanwhile, the existing management theories that discuss the commercialization of technology in universities mostly use a resource perspective such as Resource-Based View (RBV), resource orchestration theory, and dynamic capabilities with university and spin-offs as unit of analysis. This literature study provides several recommendations for future studies. First, it needs to expand the analysis not limited to licensing and spin-off, and second, it is suggested to develop a resource perspective by enriching what dimensions influence the success of a technology commercialization in universities or provide alternative new management theories in understanding technology commercialization in university.</p>