Title: University-industry knowledge transfer as practice

Authors: Chantale Mailhot; Mireille Matt; Anne Mesny

Addresses: HEC Montréal, 3000 Chemin de la Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, H3T 2A7, Canada ' Laboratoire d'Economie Appliquée de Grenoble (GAEL), INRA, UMR Université Pierre Mendès France, BP47 – 38040 Grenoble cedex 9, France ' HEC Montréal, 3000 Chemin de la Côte Sainte-Catherine, Montréal, H3T 2A7, Canada

Abstract: This article contributes to the literature on technology transfer office (TTO) performance using the theoretical lens of actor-network theory. We highlight some basic assumptions and results generated by various theories applied in the classical TTO literature. We then examine some of the hypotheses in practice-based approaches and in the general framework of actor-network theory. We investigate three cases that illustrate the potential of this approach for understanding TTO's micro-transfer practices. The analysis reveals that TTO staff face significant issues, and offers some suggestions regarding alternative and complementary ways to capture and measure the results of their activities. In our view, a practice-based perspective is useful to capture the variety of practices enacted by TT managers and to propose some alternative and complementary indicators.

Keywords: translational practice; knowledge transfer; actor-network theory; ANT; technology transfer; university-industry collaboration; industrial cooperation; technology transfer office; TTO.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2013.071339

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2013 Vol.12 No.4, pp.173 - 192

Accepted: 03 Dec 2014
Published online: 21 Aug 2015 *

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