Technology transfer and public policy: a review of research and

Abstract

My purpose is to review, synthesize and criticize the voluminous, multidisciplinary literature on technology transfer. To reduce the literature to manageable proportions, I focus chiefly not exclusively. on recent literature on domestic technology transfer from uniÍersities and goÍernment laboratories. I begin by examining a set of fundamental conceptual issues, especially the ways in which the analytical ambiguities surrounding technology transfer concepts affect research and theory.My literature review follows and I emphasize technology transfer’s impact and effectiveness. I employ a ‘‘Contingent
Effectiveness Model of Technology Transfer’’ to organize the literature. As the model’s name implies, it assumes that technology effectiveness can take a variety of forms. In addition to examining the more traditional effectiveness criteriathose
rooted in market impacts- the model considers a number of alternative effectiveness criteria, including political effectiveness, capacity-building. q2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.In general, the process of commercializing intellectual property is very complex, highly risky,takes a long time, cost much more than you think it will, and usually fails. US Congress, Commit-tee on Science and Technology, 1985, p. 12.

Introduction

In the study of technology transfer, the neophyte and the veteran researcher are easily distinguished.The neophyte is the one who is not confused. Anyone studying technology transfer understands just how complicated it can be. First, putting a boundary on ‘‘the technology’’ is not so easy. Second, outlining the technology transfer process is virtually impossible because there are so many concurrent processes. Third, measuring the impacts of transferred technology challenges scholars and evaluators, requiring them to reach deep down into their research technique kit bag. Why? The impacts are usually numerous and they are almost always difficult to separate from other parts of organizational life. In many instances, determining the meaning of technol- ogy transfer ‘‘effectiveness’’ proves daunting. Indeed, much of my analysis assumes multiple, sometimes conflicting, definitions of technology transfer

effectiveness..

CONTINUANCE