Title: Identification of success and failure factors for technology transfer in biotechnology: case studies and surveys from Academia Sinica in Taiwan

Authors: Yang-Chia Shih, Chi-Ming Liang, Ross Barnard

Addresses: Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Asia University, No. 500 Lioufeng Rd., Wufeng Shiang, Taichung, Taiwan. ' Office of Public Affairs, Academia Sinica, 128 Academia Rd., Sect 2, Taipei, Taiwan. ' Biotechnology Program, School of Molecular and Microbial Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia

Abstract: Academia Sinica is the leading research institute in Taiwan founded in 1928. Its Office of Technology Transfer (OTT) was established in 1998. It made great efforts to dramatically turn around the technology transfer activity of Academia Sinica, especially in biotechnology. Academia Sinica has more than 80 cases of experience in biotechnology transfer with companies in Taiwanese industry in the past five years. The purpose of this study is to identify potential success and failure factors for biotechnology transfer in Taiwan. Eight cases were studied through in-depth interview. The results of the analysis were used to design two surveys to further investigate 81 cases (48 successful and 33 failure cases) of biotechnology transfer in Academia Sinica from 1999–2003. The results indicated that 10 of the 14 success factors were cited in more than 40% of the cases as contributing to the success of technology transfer. By contrast, only 5 out of 16 key factors were present in more than 30% of the failure cases.

Keywords: technology transfer; biotechnology; success factors; failure factors; Taiwan.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2006.008658

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2006 Vol.5 No.1/2, pp.157 - 180

Published online: 13 Jan 2006 *

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