Commercial knowledge transfers from universities to firms: Improving the effectiveness of university-industry collaboration

Donald Siegel, David Waldman, Leanne E. Atwater, Albert N. Link

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

560 Scopus citations

Abstract

There has been a rapid rise in commercial knowledge transfers from universities to practitioners or university-industry technology transfer (UITT), through licensing agreements, research joint ventures, and start-ups. The purpose of this study was to analyze the UITT process and its outcomes. Based on 98 structured interviews of key UITT stakeholders (i.e., university administrators, academic and industry scientists, business managers, and entrepreneurs) at five research universities in two regions of the US, we conclude that these stakeholders have different perspectives on the desired outputs of UITT. More importantly, numerous barriers to effective UITT were identified, including culture clashes, bureaucratic inflexibility, poorly designed reward systems, and ineffective management of university technology transfer offices (TTOs). Based on this qualitative evidence, we provide numerous recommendations for improving the UITT process.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)111-133
Number of pages23
JournalJournal of High Technology Management Research
Volume14
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2003

Keywords

  • Commercial knowledge transfers
  • Effectiveness
  • University-industry collaboration

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Computer Science Applications
  • Strategy and Management
  • Information Systems and Management
  • Marketing
  • Management of Technology and Innovation

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