Christopher S. Hayter

Models and Methods of University Technology Transfer

This paper argues that a linear model of technology transfer is no longer sufficient, or perhaps even no longer relevant, to account for the nuances and complexities of the technology transfer process that characterizes the ongoing commercialization activities of universities. Shortcomings of the traditional linear model of technology transfer include inaccuracies—such as its strict linearity and oversimplification of the process, composition, a one-size-fits-all approach, and an overemphasis on patents—and inadequacies—such as failing to account for informal mechanisms of technology transfer, failing to acknowledge the impact of organizational culture, and failing to represent university reward systems within the model. As such, alternative views of technology transfer are presented here that better capture the progression of the university towards an entrepreneurial and dynamic institution, and that advance the body of knowledge about this important academic endeavor.

Harnessing University Entrepreneurship for Economic Growth

University spin-offs are an important vehicle for knowledge dissemination and have the potential to generate jobs and economic growth. Despite their importance, little research exists on spin-off performance or impact, especially from the perspective of academic entrepreneurs. Using logit regression, this article makes a scholarly contribution by testing the relationship between spin-off success—defined here as technology commercialization—and multiple factors derived from the extant literature. Several significant variables are found to enable commercialization success within the sample, including venture capital, multiple and external licenses, outside management, joint ventures with other companies, previous faculty consulting experience, and—surprisingly—a negative relationship to post-spin-off services provided by universities. The results have important implications for public policy and management, supporting an overall “open innovation” approach to spin-off success.

Harnessing University Entrepreneurship for Economic Growth: Factors of Success Among University Spin-offs

University spin-offs are an important vehicle for knowledge dissemination and have the potential to generate jobs and economic growth. Despite their importance, little research exists on spin-off performance or impact, especially from the perspective of academic entrepreneurs. Using logit regression, this article makes a scholarly contribution by testing the relationship between spin-off success—defined here as technology commercialization—and multiple factors derived from the extant literature. Several significant variables are found to enable commercialization success within the sample, including venture capital, multiple and external licenses, outside management, joint ventures with other companies, previous faculty consulting experience, and—surprisingly—a negative relationship to post-spin-off services provided by universities. The results have important implications for public policy and management, supporting an overall “open innovation” approach to spin-off success.

Social Networks and the Success of University Spin-offs: Toward an Agenda for Regional Growth

This study explores the economic factors that are associated with the success of university spin-offs. Drawing on a unique sample of academic entrepreneurs from research institutions in New York State, the article finds that spin-off success is dependent on both the type and size of the academic entrepreneur’s social network. Specifically, extraregional networks of nonacademic contacts—including investors, researchers from other companies, and advisors—allow academic entrepreneurs access to a broader base of knowledge and other resources important to spin-off success, which leads to regional economic development.

Toward a strategic view of higher education social responsibilities: A dynamic capabilities approach:

The social responsibilities of higher education serve as the foundation for its existence. Within an increasingly global context, society expects colleges and universities to undertake new and increasingly complex social responsibilities that expand traditional higher education missions while emphasizing new obligations such as economic development and sustainability. Higher education institutions have responded by adding new programs and services—such as new degree programs, equity and inclusion offices, and training for older workers—and aggressively pursuing new sources of revenue in support of their missions. Despite these considerable efforts, there is a growing sense that higher education is not adequately fulfilling its social responsibilities. We contend that these trends do not stem from intransigence, but are instead symptomatic of the need for strategic management frameworks tailored to the unique social responsibilities and impacts of higher education. To this end, we introduce a strategic social responsibility framework based on the emergent concept of dynamic capabilities. Strategic social responsibility emphasizes the establishment and continuing renewal of an orchestration infrastructure that enables colleges and universities to maximize their social impact through the alignment of strategy and resources. Implications for future scholarship and policy are discussed.

Concise Guide to Entrepreneurship, Technology and Innovation

Theories on the evolution of entrepreneurial financing align with firm maturity; as firms grow, different sources of finance become available. Hanssens, Deloof and Vanacker find, however, that several issues need to be addressed in order to get a full picture of entrepreneurial finance, including the unexpectedly important role of bank debt in early stage ventures, longitudinal evidence on the dynamics of financing policies and how multiple sources of finance relate and potentially interact.Financing innovative, high-growth ventures are difficult given their reliance on intangible knowledge-based assets, high probabilities of failure and asymmetries between entrepreneurs and financiers. Venture capitalists have developed systems over time to cope with this uncertainty and asymmetries in pursuit of high returns with other investors following suit. Unfortunately, returns on very early-stage investments to not seem to provide compensation for the commensurate risk taken and thus creative policy or industry-wide solutions are needed.

Spurring Vaccine Development for the Developing World: A Collaborative Governance Perspective on Product Development Partnerships

ABSTRACT Collaborative governance has emerged recently as an alternative to the traditional sector-based, single-actor approaches for addressing complex governance challenges. However, previous research has given little attention to collaborative governance within international policy contexts. To address this gap, an integrative collaborative governance framework is used to analyze product development partnerships (PDPs) that seek to develop vaccines to prevent the spread of devastating diseases within the developing world. The analysis indicates that PDPs are helping address acute governance challenges and are emblematic of the increasing importance of nonprofit organizations in collaborative governance regimes. Implications for research on collaborative governance are also discussed.

Great expectations: assessing the impact of commercialization-focused policies among Malaysia’s public research institutes

ABSTRACT In 2006, the Malaysian government released its 9th five-year development plan which, among other things, directed the country’s numerous public research institutes (PRIs) to focus primarily on commercializing technologies stemming from their respective research agendas. This directive envisioned a de facto division of labor between universities, that would emphasize basic research, and PRIs, that would become Malaysia’s translational research and technology commercialization hubs. Employing a scientific and technical human capital conceptual lens, this paper assesses the extent to which PRIs have met the expectations of the new commercialization directive through the analysis of data collected during a 2011–2012 survey among university and PRI researchers. First, we find descriptively that, in comparison to university researchers, PRI researchers do not differ substantially in terms of average patents and prototypes produced, our proxies for technology commercialization. Second, we investigate factors among PRI researchers that explain commercialization behavior and find that holding a PhD correlates strongly with publication and patenting behavior while conducting applied research and expressing adequate commercialization support correlates modestly with prototyping behavior. Implications for research and policy are discussed.

Bringing Organizational Sustainability to Public Postsecondary Education

Have you noticed that substantial cuts to state public postsecondary education budgets have become a familiar headline? If so, perhaps you’ve also noted subsequent announcements by public colleges and universities that they are cutting classes, services, and staff while casting a wistful eye toward a time when economies will improve and public funding will be restored.