Creating network bridges for university technology transfer: The medici fellowship programme

This paper evaluates a fellowship scheme aiming to overcome attitudinal and operational barriers towards university technology transfer. We propose barriers exist because of the focus of many academics exclusively within a peer review research network. We explore the case of the Medici Fellowship programme that was implemented in biomedical departments across five universities located in the midlands of England. Our evidence suggests that such fellowship programmes, through the retraining of academics, may have a positive impact on the commercialisation of research. In particular, the fellows, through the enhancement of their social and human capital, are able to act as agents of attitudinal change in their host departments and are seen to build bridges into external business networks that can provide early stage funding, market and legal information and help identify potential customers for nascent academic entrepreneurs.     

Institutional change and academic patenting: French universities and the Innovation Act of 1999

The Innovation Act was introduced by the French government in 1999, with the aim of encouraging academic institutions to protect and commercialize their scientists’ inventions. We explore the effects of the Act on the distribution of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) over academic scientists’ inventions. We find that, before the Act, academic institutions had a strong tendency to leave such IPRs in the hands of their main funders, namely public research organizations (such as CNRS or INSERM), and business companies. After the introduction of the Act, French academic institutions increased their propensity to claim IPRs over their employees’ inventions, mainly under the form of co-ownership with business companies. This result varies with the technological class of the patent, the presence and age of a technology transfer office within the university, and the university size and type.     

Investing in innovation to enable global competitiveness: The case of Portugal

The concept of leveraged innovation to create wealth within regions, countries and economies is not a new concept. Competitiveness of regions in the increasingly global economy now requires not only that innovation be present within a regional economy, but also that mechanisms exist to effectively transfer those developed innovations from the research laboratory to the marketplace. It is surmised that increased innovation, and the transfer of this innovation, can lead to increased prosperity of regions (Porter). As such, many developing countries around the world are looking at investments in innovation as a means to spur regional economic development and wealth creation while preserving national competitiveness. That said, innovation investment is by no means an exact science. Historically, typical “innovation investments” have been focused on “tangible” capital infrastructure projects such as the establishment of incubators and science parks. While many regions point to the existence of such tangible innovation assets as proof of investment in innovation, it has been discovered that in some cases, an investment in the capacity building of human networks to engage in technology transfer and commercialization related activities can act as a stronger facilitator for the transformation of economies and produce a larger return on investment in innovation for the country. Given not only Portugal's, but other regions throughout the EU-Zone, recent financial and economic woes, it bears examination on whether investing in the innovation and technology transfer knowledge and “know how” of key human networks within a struggling economy is a worthwhile investment for financially struggling countries during the current times of fiscal crisis.     

社会资本与技术支持对学术虚拟社区知识共享的影响——基于科学网平台的知识共享要素分析

学术虚拟社区是广大学者和科研工作者进行知识交流与探讨的重要平台，也是学术碰撞和知识创新的新阵地。通过构建社会资本与技术支持对用户知识共享行为影响的理论模型，探讨社会资本（关系资本、结构资本、认知资本）和技术支持（感知有用性、感知易用性）对社区用户知识共享行为（知识共享质量和数量）的作用机理。结果表明，关系资本与结构资本分别对学术虚拟社区知识共享质量和数量具有显著正向影响，属于持续动力。伴随其它因素介入，认知资本对学术社区知识共享数量产生正向影响，技术支持对知识共享的影响具有显著差异，感知易用性对学术社区知识共享质量和数量均具有显著正向影响，而感知有用性对知识共享质量具有显著负向影响。基于此，提出社区管理者应采取措施拓展用户社会资本并加强平台技术支持，以实现学术虚拟社区可持续发展。     

Intellectual property governance and knowledge creation in UK universities

The public discourse advocating increased patenting of academic discoveries, which has led to the approval of legislative measures (such as the Bayh–Dole Act, which is now adopted world-wide in various forms) is based on a set of theoretical arguments, mainly related to knowledge transfer and financial reward. Using an original survey of 46 universities (about 27%) in the UK, we investigate whether some of these arguments are supported by evidence. We focus on the extent to which patents, as opposed to other forms of intellectual property (IP) protection mechanisms, enhance knowledge circulation, and especially contribute to universities’ own knowledge creation processes. We also investigate whether universities consider the markets for ideas and creative expressions to function efficiently. We find that universities use all forms of IP intensively in order to transfer their knowledge to the industry or the government. However, they mainly rely on non-proprietary IP (open-source and no-patent strategies) when aiming to enhance their own knowledge-creation processes. Also, universities do not find that markets for patents or copyrights function more smoothly than non-proprietary IP marketplaces. The results challenge the orthodox theories on the rationales for patents and other proprietary IP rights. Thus, we question the assumptions and arguments underpinning the implementation of patents on academic research outcomes via political reforms since the 1980s.     

新企业生成：回顾、演进与展望

新企业生成是创业研究谋求学术贡献的基本支撑。当前组织实践深化与技术创新驱动引发企业生成内涵、边界和行为逻辑变化，导致新企业生成研究面临方向转型与内容深化。弄清新企业生成研究的学术演化趋势和理论发展方向是应对变化的必要选择。首先，从新企业生成研究演化历程中抽取出两条主要研究思路，即要素—行为和企业创建行为规律/模式，作为指引后续文献研究的基本线索；其次，采用内容编码方式提炼出9个新企业生成研究的核心主题，并对各主题随两条主要研究思路发生的理论演进展开阐述；最后，重新回到两条思路，分别提出潜在的未来研究方向。研究成果不仅有助于研究者明晰和理解已有新企业生成研究的根基、关注焦点和演进过程，也可为未来继续在这一核心研究领域挖掘更深、更有价值的理论成果指引方向。     

The relationship between research funding and academic consulting: An empirical investigation in the Spanish context

This paper investigates the relationship between sources of funding for research activity and the engagement of scientists in a specific type of knowledge transfer, that is, academic consulting. We rely on a sample of 2603 individual scientists from five Spanish universities, who have been awarded public funding or have been principal investigators in activities contracted by external agents, over the period 1999–2004. We find that externally contracted research is positively related to the amount of monetary income from consulting contracts, but that international competitive funding has a negative effect. Our results show that this negative effect is positively moderated by the size of contract funding: the effect of international competitive funding becomes positive for moderate and high levels of contract funding. By investigating the relationship between academic consulting and different types of research funding, our paper sheds light on the conditions that favor academic consulting.     

英国曼彻斯特大学技术转移模式及其启示

大学所属的技术转移公司是英国技术转移中介机构中最重要的一类机构,在促进英国大学技术转移中发挥了重要作用。以曼彻斯特大学的知识产权管理公司(UMIP)为例,对其业务范围、团队构成、主要技术转移模式和支持方式进行了详细的介绍。UMIP技术转移的模式主要为技术驱动型和需求导向型两种。除一般性支持外,UMIP还通过PoP基金对项目进行早期支持,同时为派生公司提供早期风险资金支持。英国大学技术转移工作的模式和方法带给我们的启示是:大学应成为技术转移的重要力量,专业化的技术转移人员是技术转移中介机构成功的重要保证,专利许可不是技术转移的唯一模式,也不是主要模式,大学要为所属技术转移机构提供政策和基金支持等。     

Technology transfer in United States universities

This paper examines the role of offices of technology transfer (OTT) in 12 U.S. universities in 1998 in commercializing research results in the form of patents, licenses, and start-ups of new companies. We study the organization and place of OTTs within the university structure, the process of technology transfer, and the staffing and funding of the office. Data were collected through a mail questionnaire followed up through telephone interviews. We also conducted a statistical analysis of data for 170 U.S. universities, hospitals, and research institutes for the period 1991–1996. Our findings suggest that technology transfer from universities to the commercial sector needs to be understood in its broader context. The primary purpose of a technology transfer program is for the university to assist its researchers in disseminating research results for the public good. Success in this endeavor is only partially reflected in income generated for the university or the number of business start-ups. The degree of success depends not only on the nature of the interface between the university and the business community but also on the receptivity in the surrounding community as well as the culture, organization, and incentives within the universities themselves.     

学术创业者角色协同的驱动因素组态效应研究

学术创业是科技成果转化的重要形式之一。运用模糊集定性比较分析法,探讨影响学术创业者角色协同的多重因素及因果路径。结果表明,个体较高的认知柔性是产生协同的必要条件,实现高学术创业者角色协同的路径有3条,即认知柔性、政府支持和高校支持的联动匹配,认知柔性、团队异质性和政府支持的联动匹配,以及认知柔性、政府支持和家庭支持的联动匹配。其中,第一条路径更能有效提升角色协同程度,当政府、高校组织和自身条件有效组合与匹配时,能够显著形成耦合效应。不同路径涉及的要素既发挥协同作用,也产生替代作用,当认知柔性和政府支持力度较高时,只要家庭支持强有力,或者建立异质性创业团队,或者高校各项组织制度较为完善,均可实现高学术创业者角色协同。导致非高学术创业者角色协同的路径有两条,且与高学术创业者角色协同驱动机制存在非对称关系。结论有助于揭示驱动学术创业者角色协同各因素间的组态关系,为学术创业政策设计提供启示。     

我国校企知识转移研究定位分析

在介绍我国目前校企知识转移活动与相关学术研究现状的基础上,指出当前我国校企知识转移处于活动频繁而相关学术研究不足的失衡状态,提出基于提高企业自主创新能力的校企知识转移研究定位,并分析了3个主要问题,即：高校知识转移效率分析、利用校企知识转移提高企业自主创新能力、以及校企知识转移对构建区域创新体系的作用。     

Global distribution of micro–nano technology and fabrication centers: A portfolio analysis approach

Micro and Nano Technologies (MNT) are potential economic engines that have the capability to become the basis for regional and national job and wealth creation. Some have even suggested that MNT along with information technology and media form the basis of a new Schumpeterian or Kondratief wave. Many governments recognizing MNT as enabling technologies with exceptional economic potential have embraced them as centerpieces of their technology policy. Many of these same countries and regions as an expression of their technology policy are creating national centers that embrace the promise of MNT. These international Micro and Nano Technology Centers (MNTC) have taken a variety of forms.Here we review the variety of forms and define the nature of many these major MNTCs from around the world by describing some of their similarities and differences. We provide an insight into many of these centers' demonstrated policy and tactics as they optimize their value to their constituents. Finally we provide a contribution to the literature by providing a categorization scheme for global MNTCs based on our exploration.     

协同创新背景下大学与产业有效互动的动机调适与模式构建

新知识生产范式下的知识创新具有系统性和互动性特点,大学与产业两大创新主体之间的互动融合和相互协同为知识创新提供了良好土壤。虽然大学与产业在互动合作中有着不同动机和诉求,但从经济、人才、知识和责任4个层面均可以找到大学与产业互动的有效结合点。传统意义上大学与产业的互动合作存在教育、科研和服务3种模式,而学科-专业-产业链作为一种新型的教学－科研－生产联合体,是协同创新背景下大学与产业有效互动的新模式,能够在有效互动过程中实现知识传播、创造和应用能效倍增,促进创新要素在不同创新主体间双向融合与协同。     

学术印记、网络惯例与大学衍生企业产业嵌入

在大学衍生企业创业实践中,与产业主体间缺乏合作默契已成为大学衍生企业向产业网络嵌入的重要阻滞因素。针对该问题,基于网络惯例新视角,从大学衍生企业学术创生背景带来的异质性入手,构建“学术印记—网络惯例—产业网络嵌入”作用模型,探索技术动荡性的调节效应。运用多元回归分析等方法,对379家大学衍生企业调研数据进行实证检验。结果表明,大学衍生企业学术印记对网络惯例建立具有积极促进作用。同时,在向产业嵌入过程中,网络惯例对产业网络嵌入两个维度的作用机制存在差异,与结构嵌入存在倒U型关系,但正向促进关系嵌入。技术动荡性在“学术印记—网络惯例—产业网络关系嵌入”关系中具有正向调节作用。     

大学衍生企业创业能力提升及大学促进机制研究

大学衍生企业的创建和发展有其特殊性：一是需要具备特定的创业能力,二是需要得到大学各层次的支持。因此,在大学衍生企业培育和发展过程中有两个核心机制至关重要：一是大学衍生企业创业能力提升机制,二是大学对衍生企业创业能力的促进机制。对国外有关大学衍生企业创业能力发展的研究文献进行了梳理整合,系统解构了大学衍生企业创业能力的核心要素,总结剖析了大学衍生企业创业能力的提升机制以及大学对衍生企业创业能力的促进机制,并在此基础上就深化中国大学改革、促进学术创业提出了相关建议。     

Managing academic innovation in Taiwan: Towards a ‘scientific-economic’ framework

Since the passage of the Science and Technology Basic Law in 1999, Taiwanese universities have taken a more “scientific-economic” approach to protect and commercialize their research. This research mainly examines innovation activities such as patenting, licensing, and incubated startups in the context of Taiwanese higher education institutions (HEIs). The “scientific-economic” framework used to analyze the strategic aspects influencing these academic innovations includes (1) intellectual property managerial capabilities, (2) the strength of external industrial partnerships, (3) the university entrepreneurial orientation, and (4) government research policy. Four hypotheses were developed. Data were collected via a questionnaire with all 122 HEIs in Taiwan surveyed.The research reveals that the aspects of intellectual property managerial capability, HEI-industry partnerships, and academic entrepreneurial orientation are useful to distinguish the university's innovation performance on patent grants, licensing incomes, and firm incubation. Also, government support on research plays a moderating role in academic innovation. Managerial and policy implications for managing innovation effectively in universities were drawn.     

Business Processes and Networks in University Incubators: A Review and Research Agendas

While the technology aspects of university incubators in university science parks (USPs) receive considerable attention and development, as the primary force in the creation of incubator businesses, the business and social inputs (entrepreneurial networks) are less well defined. Anchoring to the resource-based view of the firm (RBV), it is argued that a business process perspective is useful to conceptualize the deployment of key resources in USPs—namely business support and social support (entrepreneurial networks). This paper reviews existing literature in relation to university incubator business processes and networks. In particular, the paper seeks to link the process and network concepts to define research agendas.     

Matching mechanisms and matching quality: Evidence from a top university in China

We compare competing college admission matching mechanisms that differ in preference submission timing (pre-exam, post-exam but pre-score, or post-score) and in matching procedure (Boston (BOS) and serial dictatorship (SD) matching). Pre-exam submission asks students to submit college preferences before entrance exam scores are known, whereas post-score (post-exam) submission removes (reduces) score uncertainties. Theoretical analyses show that although mechanisms with post-score submission or SD matching are ex-post fair and efficient, they are not so ex-ante. Instead, the mechanism with pre-exam submission and BOS matching can be more fair and efficient ex-ante. These hypotheses are supported by empirical test on data from a top school at a top-ranked Chinese university with identification based on temporal and provincial changes. We find that although students admitted under the pre-exam BOS mechanism have lower college entrance exam scores than students admitted through other mechanisms on average, they exhibit similar or even better college academic performance.     

The Market for Economics and Finance PhDs

This paper presents new information about the post-graduation activities of those with a PhD in economics and finance from an Australian university. Approximately 40 per cent have an academic job, while the other 60 per cent work elsewhere or engage in other activities. The analysis includes origin‒destination networks for both the academic and non-academic markets, the determinants of earnings and measures of overqualification and underemployment. The findings of the paper can provide guidance for those completing or contemplating PhD studies.     

高校技术转移与企业技术转移对区域创新能力的差异性贡献——技术转移中心的调节作用

高校和企业作为技术转移的两大主体,在技术转移中扮演着重要角色。高校技术转移和企业技术转移对区域创新能力的影响如何？二者贡献度有何差异？以2010―2017年中国内地27个省级行政区面板数据为研究样本,采用动态面板系统GMM估计方法,对上述问题进行探索。研究发现,高校技术转移和企业技术转移显著促进区域创新能力提升;相较于高校,企业技术转移的区域创新绩效更高;技术转移中心在高校技术转移和企业技术转移对区域创新能力影响中起着重要调节作用,技术转移中心显著强化了高校技术转移和企业技术转移的区域创新绩效。结论不仅丰富了不同技术转移形式的区域创新绩效方面的研究,同时有助于明晰不同主体技术转移效果,为政府制定针对性帮扶政策提供参考。