Content area
Full text
ABSTRACT
Since the Bayh-Dole act, decreased federal funds to research-intensive and extensive universities resulted in a search for alternative resources to continue research activities. Changes made by higher education institutions in strategic orientation initiated the development of technology transfer offices designed to support patent development, licensure to corporations, and spin-off of entrepreneurial efforts. Researchers seek explanatory models to understand variances in university success; however, current models lack full descriptive power. Therefore, we first identify the current research base on technology transfer; propose an alternative view; and, recommend propositions and future research.
Introduction
As early as 1996, the AUTM reported that "[t]echnology transfer programs are integral to the academic institution's mission: education, research, and public service, in that they provide:
"* A mechanism for important research results to be transferred to the public:
* Service to faculty and inventors in dealing with industry arrangements and technology transfer issues;
* A method to facilitate and encourage additional industrial research support;
* A source of unrestricted funds available to the institution for additional research;
* A source of expertise in licensing and industrial contract negotiation;
* A method by which the institution can fulfill the requirements of P.L. 96-517 and P.L. 98-620" (AUTM, 1996).
Since the Bayh-Dole act, decreased federal funds to research-intensive and extensive universities resulted in a search for alternative resources to continue research activities. Between 1996 and 2005, universities in the AUTM Licensing STATT report an increase in total research expenses from $21.4 to $44.2 billion while revenues have increased from $.59 to $1.98 billion. However, these figures may misled since the number of reporting institutions increased form 173 in 1996 to 214 in 2005; the median expenses was $78.6 million and $125.6 million respectively. Given the 60% increase in the amount of research investment that higher education institutions conduct, it is reasonable to state that these institutions view licensing and technology transfer (TT) as a source of revenue. Furthermore, attempts to stress the societal impact, the public service dimension, of technology license resulted in Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) to suggest In the Public Interest: Nine Points to Consider in Licensing University Technology specific licensing areas that will facilitate the increase in social welfare. However, as suggested by the returns above,...