Foundations and Trends® in Entrepreneurship > Vol 2 > Issue 2

The Effectiveness of University Technology Transfer

By Phillip H. Phan, Lally School of Management and Technology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA | Donald S. Siegel, A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management, University of California at Riverside, USA, Donald.Siegel@ucr.edu

 
Suggested Citation
Phillip H. Phan and Donald S. Siegel (2006), "The Effectiveness of University Technology Transfer", Foundations and TrendsĀ® in Entrepreneurship: Vol. 2: No. 2, pp 77-144. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/0300000006

Publication Date: 24 Nov 2006
© 2006 P.H. Plan and D.S. Siegel
 
Subjects
High technology
 

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In this article:
1 Introduction 
2 The Institutional Context of University Technology Transfer 
3 The Organizational Context of University Technology Transfer 
4 The Individual Context of University Technology Transfer 
5 Measuring the Effectiveness of University Technology Transfer (Licensing and the Creation of New Businesses) 
6 Lessons Learned: Theoretical Implications 
7 Lessons Learned: Policy and Practitioner Implications 
8 Conclusions 
Acknowledgements 
References 

Abstract

In recent years, there have been numerous studies of the effectiveness of university technology transfer. Such technology transfer mechanisms include licensing agreements between the university and private firms, science parks, incubators, and university-based startups. We review and synthesize these papers and present some pointed recommendations on how to enhance effectiveness. Implementation of these recommendations will depend on the mechanisms that universities choose to stress, based on their technology transfer "strategy." For example, institutions that emphasize the entrepreneurial dimension of technology transfer must address skill deficiencies in technology transfer offices, reward systems that are inconsistent with enhanced entrepreneurial activity and the lack of training for faculty members, post-docs, and graduate students in starting new ventures or interacting with entrepreneurs. Universities will also have to confront a set of issues related to ethics and social responsibility, as they more aggressively pursue technology commercialization. Finally, we suggest some possible theoretical frameworks for additional research.

DOI:10.1561/0300000006
ISBN: 978-1-933019-34-5
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Table of contents:
1 Introduction
2 The Institutional Context of University Technology Transfer
3 The Organizational Context of University Technology Transfer
4 The Individual Context of University Technology Transfer
5 Measuring the Effectiveness of University Technology Transfer
6 Lessons Learned: Theoretical Implications
7 Lessons Learned: Policy and Practitioner Implications

The Effectiveness of University Technology Transfer

In recent years, there have been numerous studies of the effectiveness of university technology transfer. Such technology transfer mechanisms include licensing agreements between the university and private firms, science parks, incubators, and university-based startups. The Effectiveness of University Technology Transfer reviews this literature and presents recommendations on how to enhance effectiveness. Implementation of these recommendations will depend on the mechanisms that universities choose to stress, based on their technology transfer "strategy." Institutions that emphasize the entrepreneurial dimension of technology transfer must address skill deficiencies in technology transfer offices, reward systems that are inconsistent with enhanced entrepreneurial activity and the lack of training for faculty members, post-docs, and graduate students in starting new ventures or interacting with entrepreneurs. Universities also have to confront a set of issues related to ethics and social responsibility as they more aggressively pursue technology commercialization. Finally, the authors suggest some theoretical frameworks for additional research.

 
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