An exploration of open innovation in university technology transfer

Abstract

In addition to their well established teaching and research missions, universities are increasingly seen as essential contributors to economic development . The vanguard of this movement is the push toward technology transfer and research commercialization in order to develop a capacity to tap into and exploit the value of tacit and tangible intellectual property associated with research institutions.

Much research concentrates around open innovation from the perspective of the firm and universities are seen as passive contributors to the open innovation process as suppliers of knowledge. Little direction exists in terms of how open innovation can enhance and benefit university technology transfer processes however. Emerging thought suggests a more active role for universities where open innovation processes are applied to their core competency of basic research.

This paper explores current understanding from both perspectives and outlines conditions that contribute to dynamic innovation at the intersection of open innovation paradigms and university technology transfer processes. A case study is employed to illustrate theoretical concepts in action.