Title: Externality evaluation: an empirical study of ITRI

Authors: Po-Young Chu, Yu-Ling Lin, Chi-Hung Huang, Tzu-Yar Liu

Addresses: Department of Management Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Business Administration, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Management Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC. ' Department of Management Science, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC

Abstract: This study proposes a framework for exploring technology transfer externality of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), a national industry technology development research institution in Taiwan over the past three decades. The specific diffusion effects and external impact were quantitatively assessed. High multiplier effects derived from ITRI|s spin-off activities are concluded profound. Finally, being a non-profit R&D institution inherited with common properties of public goods, ITRI has created a unique and valuable role to foster Taiwan|s high-tech sector. The innovative ITRI model should provide important managerial implications for large R&D institutes as well as emergent countries to initiate and operate projects with unavoidable high risk but desirable enormous externalities.

Keywords: R&D institute; technology transfer; externality; Industrial Technology Institute; ITRI; research and development; Taiwan; spin-offs; technology management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2009.024949

International Journal of Technology Management, 2009 Vol.48 No.3, pp.280 - 294

Published online: 05 May 2009 *

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