THE EFFECTIVENESS OF UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: LESSONS LEARNED FROM QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN THE U.S. AND THE U.K.

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. We conjecture that
business schools are best positioned to address these skill and educational deficiencies through
the delivery of targeted programs to technology licensing officers and members of the campus community wishing to launch startup firms.