Title: What influences the dynamics of technology licensing in academia? The case of Spanish universities

Authors: Erika Sofía Olaya Escobar; Maria Belén Arias Valle; Anna Akhmedova

Addresses: Escuela Colombiana de Ingenieria Julio Garavito, AK 45 (Autonorte) #205-59, Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Colombia ' Universidad Internacional de Catalunya, Carrer de la Immaculada, 22, 08017 Barcelona, Spain ' IESE Business School, Av. de Pearson, 21, 08034 Barcelona, Spain

Abstract: University licensing, a technology transfer mechanism that has received less attention in the literature despite its relevance, was examined. Specifically, we explored the combined effect of human capital, research experience, and knowledge stock on licensing. We assumed that universities follow different patterns according to their internal strategy and resources. In order to deeper explore our results, we also investigated which combinations of the above factors led to the absence of licensing. To do so we used qualitative comparative analysis (QCA). Sample included 39 Spanish public universities with on-campus education. Our results suggest that universities should strive to achieve a good mix of quality and quantity in terms of human capital and research experience in order to be active in licensing. Surprisingly, knowledge stock is rather irrelevant. We observe that subject-mix plays a role, as technical universities are more prone to generate licences.

Keywords: licensing; university-industry; technology transfer; patents; Spain.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIPM.2020.111372

International Journal of Intellectual Property Management, 2020 Vol.10 No.3, pp.233 - 251

Received: 08 Jul 2019
Accepted: 29 Jul 2019

Published online: 23 Nov 2020 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article