Recent Research: New Report Offers Advice for Emerging Tech Transfer Universities

While discussions of successful university technology transfer programs tend to revolve around a select set of high-achieving institutions, a number of less-recognized institutions are now being proposed as national models for their approaches to entrepreneurial support and regional outreach. A recent report from Innovation Associates highlights 10 colleges, universities and community colleges that are emerging as significant contributors to their regional economy through tech transfer activities. The list includes institutions that are maximizing the impact of their research investment and entrepreneurial programs despite their small size, geographic isolation, or limited R&D budget. Montana State University, Springfield Technical Community College and the University of Central Florida are listed among these emerging tech transfer centers.



Drawing from the 10 case studies, the authors have assembled a set of recommendations for institutions that aspire to have a greater regional impact through tech transfer. The report advises university administrators to create greater connections between their institutions' entrepreneurial services and programs and their tech transfer offices. This will help improve communication, strategy and awareness of the resources available to entrepreneurs. Linking these functions also will help institutions develop stronger partnerships with the private sector, sources of capital and state and local government. University leaders also should appraise their institution's research strengths and build on them to create research centers that can compete on a national and global scale.



The University of Akron is one of the institutions singled out by the report for the expansion of its research programs over the last decade and for building on the core strength of the university and region in polymer science. Between 1996 and 2004, the university nearly doubled its research investment and engaged in a number of industry partnerships that helped the school become one of the nation's leading centers for polymer research. Almost 35 percent of total research expenditures were dedicated to the polymer science program, which ended up attracting a number of private research sponsors. Industry-sponsored partnerships represent about 12.6 percent of total research expenditures at the University of Akron, while the national average is only 4.9 percent. The university also has secured state grants from the Ohio Third Frontier project to further develop its specialization in physical sciences.



The report identifies several outstanding issues at the national, state and institutional level that should be addressed to improve the effectiveness of U.S. tech transfer:

• Supporting companies through the "Valley of Death". The report finds that too little is being done to help entrepreneurs make the transition from late-stage research to early-stage market entry. The authors call for university initiatives that go beyond traditional "accelerator" programs and will help develop technologies into a marketable commercial form. Also, a national study of firms' needs at this stage of development should be undertaken in order to devise policy options for universities and federal and state government.
• Connecting entrepreneurship programs and tech transfer offices. University tech transfer offices have historically been more oriented toward intellectual property licensing than the cultivation of entrepreneurs and their businesses. By coordinating tech transfer operations and entrepreneurial services, universities of all sizes can boost their regional economic impact.
• Involving minority institutions, smaller colleges and community colleges. The authors argue that these institutions, which historically have been left out of national, state and regional innovation strategies, could prove to be extremely valuable sources of new technologies and businesses. These schools could be drawn into the innovation economy through partnerships with larger research universities and through interaction with local economic development leaders.

Special mention is made of how the National Science Foundation's Partnerships for Innovation (NSF PFI) program could be expanded and replicated to increase federal support for university tech transfer. Since 2000, PFI grants have been awarded to university projects that encourage meaningful collaboration between institutions of higher education, state and local governments, the private sector and other organizations. The program is an example of what the federal government could do to promote innovative small businesses connected to universities and regional economies, according to the report, but PFI remains small in comparison to the rest of federal investment in R&D. By expanding PRI and similar programs at other agencies, the federal government could significantly enhance the economic impact of its research investment.



Read the full report at: Innovation Associates