De-reifying technology transfer metrics: to address the stages and phases of TTO development

Book synopsis: Universities have become essential players in the generation of knowledge and innovation. Through the commercialization of technology, they have developed the ability to influence regional economic growth. By examining different commercialization models this book analyses technology transfer at universities as part of a national and regional system. It provides insight as to why certain models work better than others, and reaffirms that technology transfer programs must be linked to their regional and commercial environments. Using a global perspective on technology commercialization, this book divides the discussion between developed and developing counties according to the level of university commercialization capability. Critical cases as well as country reports examine the policies and culture of university involvement in economic development, relationships between university and industry, and the commercialization of technology first developed at universities. In addition, each chapter provides examples from specific universities in each country from a regional, national, and international comparative perspective. This book includes articles by leading practitioners as well as researchers and will be highly relevant to all those with an interest in innovation studies, organizational studies, regional economics, higher education, public policy and business entrepreneurship

Who instigates university–industry collaborations? University scientists versus firm employees

While evidence on the causes and effects of university–industry interaction is abundant, little is known about how, and particularly by whom, such interaction is instigated in the first place and subsequently managed. In this paper, we investigate which mode of collaboration (joint research, contract research, consulting, in-licensing, or informal contacts) is more likely to be initiated and managed by firm employees versus by university scientists. Moreover, we are interested in the differences between small and large firms to see whether initiation and management are affected by firm size. Using a sample of 833 German manufacturing firms, our results indicate that university scientists typically start collaborations with industry, while firm employees would take over the management of projects. Results vary markedly between small and large firms, with university scientists having somewhat higher difficulties initiating collaborations with large firms than with small firms

Integration versus separation: structure and strategies of the technology transfer office (TTO) in medical research organizations

Establishing technology transfer offices (TTOs) within research organizations is one initiative used to facilitate successful commercialization. Research organizations may choose to either outsource the commercialization expertise (separation model) or incorporate it within their organizational structure (integration model). Ensuring the success of these integration TTOs, face many challenges, including challenges based on tensions from researchers within research organizations about the perceived differences in opinions, rules, norms and reward systems of research and commercialization. Using qualitative data from interviews from researchers and the integrated TTO personnel, this paper describes the interactions of researchers and integrated TTO personnel in five Australian medical research organizations. Despite strong researcher concerns and fears about research commercialization, a number of strategies employed by integrated TTOs were identified to encourage researcher engagement. These include the flexibility of TTO policies to researcher needs; offering collective incentives; and being visible within the organization. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

Nascent entrepreneurship and inventive activity: a somewhat new perspective

This paper focuses on the nexus between nascent entrepreneurship (NE) and inventive activity. It questions how NE affects inventive activity (including innovation and patenting) while analyzing the views and predictions that have used patenting as an indicator of entrepreneurial behavior. Using data on German researchers and controlling for their personal, professional and institutional attributes, the findings show that NE increases both patenting and innovation. Implications for technology policy are discussed