Title: Intellectual property transfer from universities to business: requisite for sustained competitive advantage?

Authors: John M. Stevens, John W. Bagby

Addresses: Management and Organization Department, 407 Beam Business Administration Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA. Management and Organization Department, 407 Beam Business Administration Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA

Abstract: Business is experiencing an ongoing fundamental shift in the competitive environment, which highlights the need for knowledge development and the interdependence between users and producers, including universities, government, and society. This interdependence is specifically accentuated by the transfer of intellectual property from universities to corporations that are intent on developing sustainable competitive strategies. This paper presents a conceptual framework and research questions and the results of an exploratory study which focused upon the interaction between pivotal universities and business in a society-government context. Among other findings, the paper concludes that the economic and contractual imperatives of business may not conform to the traditional research, instructional, and service roles of universities. The implications of the study findings for business and university interactions are discussed.

Keywords: intellectual property; sustained competitive advantage; university technology transfer; university-business interdependence; business and government interaction; university roles and missions; university research, teaching, and service.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.1999.002797

International Journal of Technology Management, 1999 Vol.18 No.5/6/7/8, pp.688-704

Published online: 07 Jul 2003 *

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