Academic Inventiveness and Entrepreneurship: On the Importance of Start-up Companies in Commercializing Academic Patents

This article presents research that places the academic start-up phenomenon in the broader technology transfer context. Drawing on data on Finnish academic inventions, the paper illustrates that a considerable share of university-related patents are utilized in start up companies but that still most academic patents are utilized in established and predominantly large firms. Differences in utilization patterns are explored for different fields of science and technology.     

Management of child care services — A state-to-state transfer venture

This paper presents information of a new venture between several states to transfer child services components, drawing on the author's personal experience as one of California's representatives to a five-state transfer of technology Consortium. The purpose, participants, and goals of the Consortium are outlined; some of the major components transferred are discussed, and the proposed versus the actual transfer process is compared. It was discovered that of the six stages designed for the effective and efficient transfer of services, most, in actuality, served to function as proposed. At the same time, it was discovered that the most crucial stage occurred at the beginning, and without an adequate definition of the transfer need, problems and dissatisfaction from the States impacted on all subsequent transfer stages.     

Developing and transfering technology in state S&T programs: Assessing performance

By 1996, all states had established a program focusing on the development of technology and technology-based economic development. As more agencies move to performance-based management, state S&T programs are increasingly under pressure to report outcome and output data for their programmatic activities. This paper presents findings on the extent and use of performance measurement and evaluation efforts in state science and technology programs. The 1995–96 study was based on a series of eight case studies and a mail survey of science and technology-based programs in all fifty states. The findings show that three groups of measures emerged as most important to state science and technology programs: employment-related data, leveraged or matching fund data, and anecdotal evidence. State programs are especially pressured to report short-term outcomes, yet show economic benefits. Many state program managers find value in performance data—the reseacch shows that the primary reason that many states assess their performance is the value of performance information as a management tool. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations here are those of the authors and do not represent the views of the National Science Foundation. This research was supported under NSF Grant No. SBR-9422433 from the Program of Research on Science and Technology and through the second author's NSF Independent Research Plan. The research benefited greatly from the contributions of two tireless research assistants, Arlene Allen and Michael Turton.     

Technology utilization — The new corporate challenge

Technology transfer and utilization is a process that has a profound impact on the survival of the firm, particularly in today's high technology market where technological changes are rapid and often dramatic. The market place both locally and internationally is replete with business failures resulting from the inability of firms to maintain a competitive edge in technology utilization and/or transfer. We contend that many such failures could be avoided by establishment of in-house programs developed specifically to address the utilization and transfer of technologies associated with the firm. This paper proposes a general methodology to identify and establish such an in-house program regardless of the technology area of interest. Once implemented such program can be used as engines of technological innovation by working in an active versus reactivemode.     

An exploration of the “Spinback” phenomenon

This paper examines nine cases of “spinback,” the flow back to laboratories of technical advantage from technology transfer activities. The benefits revealed in the cases are discussed and assessed for their value to the participating laboratories and the scientists involved. The objective of this study was to explore and test the feasibility of undertaking a comprehensive study of the value of spinback in order to encourage support for technology transfer activities by middle management in a laboratory. Spinback is defined as the phenomenon by which scientists’ and engineers’ participation in technology utilization activities results in a technically valuable flow back to their laboratories or organizations, thereby increasing or improving techical capability. It was anticipated that this exploration would provide evidence that the phenomenon does occur, with important consequences for the organization.     

The NASA/Florida Minority Institution Entrepreneurial Partnership: An Infrastructure to Enable Technology Transfer to Small Businesses

The NASA/Florida Minority Institution Entrepreneurial Partnership (FMIEP) represents a new infrastructure for technology transfer based on an alliance between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)-Kennedy Space Center (KSC), the Technological Research and Development Authority (TRDA), and four Minority Institutions in the State of Florida. This paper describes this partnership, their key activities, and some of the initial results accomplished. The NASA-FMIEP was developed in order to assist in the technological advancement of small businesses through the support of existing federal programs. Many of these programs are underutilized, particularly by small and minority-owned businesses. One of these programs aims to transfer advanced NASA technologies to the private sector. The FMIEP supports Kennedy Space Center by identifying new potential markets for technologies developed at the Center and by developing innovative information technology applications necessary to support the efforts of technology transfer. In addition, the FMIEP';s business thrust includes assisting Kennedy Space Center in promoting the participation by small business in the Technology Outreach Program and the Small Business Innovation Research Program. To date, one NASA technology has been successfully commercialized, seven hundred businesses have been made aware of these federal business-assistance programs, and four companies received important assistance that enabled them to become SBIR winners.     

Network building conferences in support of industry-wide innovations

Promoting industry-wide innovation is a particularly difficult problem of technology transfer because of issues of proprietary information and competition. A promising approach to this problem is network-building through mission-oriented conferences that facilitate communication among those involved in the transfer of technology. This paper defines basic concepts of networking and views mission-oriented conferences as temporary systems. It describes how one mission-oriented conference, the Footwear Technology Symposium, was designed to promote networking. The paper also provides examples of other mission-oriented conferences (including a number of what have been called “research utilization conferences”). The article concludes with a set of recommendations for planners of mission-oriented conferences.     

A model of institutional network dynamics and a comparative case analysis of information technology transfer

This paper examines the institutional network dynamics of information technology transfer with particular emphasis on the roles of publicly-funded centers for research and development at the national and regional policy-making levels. The conceptual model serves as a basis for qualitative case analysis and comparison of research management structures in two Canadian research centers located in Quebec Province. Conclusions are formulated regarding the complementarity of program and project dominant structures as well as the comparison of hierarchies and markets as technology transfer control mechanisms. Program dominant management appears appropriate to development of national innovation infrastructures, while project dominant management facilitates problem solving in regional innovation networks. The consequences of these conclusions for research management in global technological markets are discussed. This research was funded by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The names of the research centers under study have been changed.     

Harnessing technology: The workers' stake

Innovation has both potential benefits and possible destructive effects when viewed by the worker. This article presents some of the thinking of the AFL/CIO concerning this issue. Several methods to ease the human cost of industrial innovation are discussed. Early warning systems, income maintenance, transfers and relocation are suggested as helpful. The point is made that the best way to stimulate innovation is to make sure the economy of the nation is at full employment, with strong consumer demand and high utilization of national resources. A discussion is presented about the shift in technology caused by the expansion of the multinational corporations. This technology shift has a significant impact on our economy and should be understood better and possibly controlled. Another major point of the paper deals with safety and safety regulations as they relate to innovation and to the worker.     

Information Technology Transfer to African Nations: An Economic Development Mandate

The global revolution caused by the advancement and deployment of information technology (IT) demands the full involvement of the entire international community if the technology is to be ultimately effective. IT which continues to revolutionize all facets of life in the developed world has the potential to affect African countries in historic proportions. IT presents several opportunities and challenges for developing African countries, including Africa. There are opportunities for fostering technological capabilities, and thus enhancing the prospect of economic development. This paper highlights the opportunities facing African countries in the information age. The challenges that African countries must face in order to experience the full impact of the technology are discussed. A policy framework for the transfer of IT to African countries is presented and several Internet resources relating to IT transfer in Africa are provided.     

Technology Transfer Emerging Issues “High Impact Trends”

Using an experienced-based methodology it is possible to “forecast” high impact trends in technology transfer. The results presented in this paper are based upon historical data, the author's professional experience, R&D trend information and the aggregation of responses from experts drawn from a wide range of organizational sectors. The technology transfer trend forecasts may be useful to professionals and organizations in technology transfer as they examine future opportunities.     

Basic concepts for the evaluation of technology transfer benefits

This paper considers the problems of the evaluation of the benefits that may be derived from technology transfer. When intangeable benefits are considered the evaluation process becomes more costly and often less reliable. A model is developed that should assist in the evaluation of externalities and other intangeable benefits.     

New findings on the transfer of computing applications among cities

This paper presents a study of the concepts of transferring computer technology among city governments. A sample of cities from a domestic population and an international population are used as the basis of the research. Contrary to expectation, and for both populations, the survey indicated the level of computer applications transfer among cities was found to be low compared to the amount of total application development. It was determined that an important source of transfer information was from “centers” such as the federal government, vendors, and transfer agencies, rather than city to city. International cities that were studied seem to experience a propensity toward centralized control at the national level. These controls often include the transfer of technical information. Further, the types of transfer may vary widely between the domestic vs the international cities. That is, domestic city transfers tend to be operations-oriented, while transfers from national centers tend to be management oriented. In general the study supported prior conclusions concerning the difficulties of transfer. The problem of mismatch and difficulties in modification make transfers very risky. Even so, there are many persons willing to take the risks in order to try to achieve lower costs and to realize the opportunity to obtain sophisticated applications.     

A Rich Vision of Technology Transfer Technology Value Management

This paper considers technology transfer from a holistic perspective, defining and integrating all essential elements. Technology, technology ownership, and technology transfer are defined to enable practical management of the value of technology as an organizational asset. Concepts from value-chain movement of technology in commercial product development are used to develop a complete, detailed vision of technology transfer across corporate boundaries. Lessons enable development of a productive technology-transfer function that will speed evolution of technology to product and enable creation of new wealth.     

Success Factors for Transferring Technology to Spin-off Applications: the Case of The Technology Property Rights Concession Program in Korea

This paper is a study of 127 firms participating in Korea's Technology Property Rights Concession Program, a program designed to stimulate technology transfer related to spin-off applications of public technology. The purpose is to identify the determinants of transfer success. The findings indicate that successful firms were motivated by the ability to access a core technology free of charge and to solve technical problems currently encountered in technology development. Second, the targeted technology was highly reliable. Third, interest in commercial success of the transfer was very high among the researchers involved in the transfer process and these researchers had a high degree of prior understanding about industrial problems on the part of participating firms. Relatedly, there was a very high satisfaction with the communication that existed between lab researchers and their industrial partners in the transfer process. Fourth, lab contributions to the transfer process were very high in the pre-commercial and commercial stages of technology development.     

Challenges in technology transfer: an actor perspective in a quadruple helix environment

This article presents and tests a knowledge and technology transfer framework in a quadruple helix environment, from an actor perspective. The Canadian forest products industry provides a unique opportunity for data collection through case studies as it is an industry built on a triple bottom line, which is managed for sustainable progress. By confronting the new framework to 31 professionals, we highlight the role and challenges faced by each helix. Several factors such as culture, time horizon management and the adaption of theory to practice appear to be determinant to improve technology transfer. We see in our work an important contribution to the generalization of knowledge and technology transfer processes in a quadruple helix environment.     

Overcoming barriers to technology transfer between small business assistance agencies and their clients: Third world style

This paper presents the results of an empirical examination of the methods small business assistance agencies in the Dominican Republic use to overcome technology transfer barriers. The availability and the methods agencies use to access the world's business knowledge are examined, as well as how the agencies disseminate the information to clients. The discussion identifies barriers that inhibit the flow of client information between (1) the knowledge pool and the agencies and (2) the agencies and the client. The strategies that agencies use to overcome barriers are characterized as push or pull, and informal or formal. Pull strategies begin with marketplace need and work toward the technology to solve the problem. Push strategies begin with specific business information and work toward its acceptance and use in the marketplace by clients. Personal interviews were conducted in Spanish with heads of the 13 assistance agencies in the country. Survey participants were asked about the processes, procedures, and techniques they used to gain and transfer business skills. The study identifies specific activities in which the agencies engage in order to effectively overcome barriers to the transfer of business knowledge.     

Technology transfer in the americas

This paper focuses on a particular technology transfer area (Anglo-Saxon and Latin America) and presents possible answers to two questions: (1) What are the technologies most needed in the developing nations of Latin America today? (2) How can the transfer of these technologies from the United States and Canada be improved profitably? In addressing these questions, this discussion identifies key technologies driving economic development through-out the world today, and their particular importance for Latin American countries. To better analyze the transfer process, the paper proposes a general model designated as the relocation/absorption paradigm. This model evidences the necessity of an active approach to technology transfer in order for key technologies to arrive in Latin America. This active approach identifies a conceptual knowledge exchange as the essential catalyst in the absorption of the identified technologies. The purpose of this discussion is to explore issues related to the transfer of very recently developed technologies from the United States and Canada to the developing countries of Latin America. By leaving the political discussion aside, the paper approaches this matter from a technology management perspective, aiming to articulate why technology flow to “south of the border” should be increased, and to offer useful discussions on how to achieve that end.     

Electronic surveillance: An alternative to incarceration

This paper discusses the development of electronic monitoring, explains basic functions, discusses applications, provides information on specific equipment, examines test results, and presents a brief overview of the Electronic Surveillance Program (Work Furlough Program) operated by the San Diego County Probation Department. The paper concludes with a synopsis of the major public concerns about electronic monitoring. A version of this paper was presented to the Forty-Second International Conference, Correctional Education Association on July 27, 1987 at the Cathedra Hill Hotel in San Francisco, California.