Is the alignment between public research organisations' R&D competence and policies really critical for technology transfer?

This study examines the effects of commercially-oriented research and development (R&D) competence and technology commercialisation (TC) policies in public research organisations (PROs) on R&D efficiency of companies when they receive technology transfer from PROs. This study especially uses three-stage data envelopment analysis in order to control the companies’ absorptive capacity and innovation hurdles that affect the efficiency. The results show that companies that receive technology transfer from PROs that have good alignment between commercially-oriented R&D competence and TC policies have higher R&D efficiency than companies that do not. On the other hand, the misalignment between PROs’ commercially-oriented R&D competence and TC policies can have negative effects on R&D efficiency of companies that receive technology transfer. Consequently, this study discloses that the alignment between technology transferor's commercially-oriented R&D competence and TC policies is critical for improving the R&D efficiency of companies when the companies acquire technologies from external organisations.

Academic Entrepreneurship, Bioeconomy, and Sustainable Development

The potential of academic entrepreneurship towards achieving sustainable development has been established. Likewise, sustainability is an inherent characteristic of the bioeconomy. Academics are expected to play significant roles in the successful implementation of bioeconomy through scientific research and entrepreneurship. This chapter takes academic entrepreneurship as a process that creates value from research and technology commercialisation in a bioeconomy towards achieving sustainable development in the society. The chapter employs a systematic literature review approach to identify the opportunities at the intersection of academic entrepreneurship, bioeconomy, and sustainable development. The framework of technological innovation systems (TIS) will guide this study. The chapter will conclude that the future of sustainable development in our resources-constrained planet lies in plethora of academic entrepreneurial opportunities and embracing such in the implementation of bioeconomy, an economic system that is viable for the future.

ALLIANCE EXPERIENCE, INDUSTRY CONDITIONS, AND EXTERNAL TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALISATION

External technology commercialization (ETC) is one strategy firms use in order to appropriate value from innovation. In view of the complexities associated with managing partner relationships, firms are likely to draw on their prior alliance experience when considering ETC strategies. Applying an organisational capabilities perspective, we investigate the extent to which prior alliance experience shapes a firm’s propensity to engage in external commercialisation. Because the motivations and risks of ETC vary across industries, we further consider how industry effects may influence this relationship. Our study examines the ETC initiatives of 1,642 firms in the US manufacturing sector between 1990 and 2006. The results suggest a curvilinear relationship between alliance experience and ETC. We also find that this relationship is moderated by the nature of the industry appropriability regime, rate of technological change, and competitive intensity.