Innovation processes in university technology transfer : case studies from the UK and the US

• Main Author: Giuliano, Jonathan
• Other Authors: Flanagan, Kieran
• Published: University of Manchester 2013
• Online Access: https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.764250

This study focuses on university technology transfer organizations and innovation processes. Universities in the UK and the US have established organizations to facilitate the transfer of technologies from the university to industry, with public use and benefit as an ultimate objective. This research asks what process or processes describe and explicate innovation in the technology transfer organization in universities. Responses to the question derive from organization theory and case studies of four universities, two in the UK and two in the US. With qualitative data analysis, a resultant framework explains an innovation process. Justification for this research includes benefits for technology transfer officers in improving their innovation process and for university administrators, industry executives, venture capitalists, and government policy makes in better understanding technology transfer organizations. This study makes a contribution to the literature and practice of innovation and university technology transfer. Analysis of the research leads to a framework more robust than earlier frameworks by expanding antecedent conditions and actions and adding the influence of resources and organizational environments. Case studies, subsuming 48 critical incidents, permit a more rigorous analysis than hitherto available, in particular identifying actions in tripartite clusters (i.e., actions unique to successful incidents, actions unique to unsuccessful incidents, and actions present in both successful and unsuccessful incidents). This study also identifies more similarities than differences between UK and US technology transfer offices, both small and large.