Title: Development and implementation of an approach for promoting technology transfer in agri-food

Authors: Telmo N. Santos; Leandro Oliveira; Eduardo L. Cardoso

Addresses: CBQF – Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina – Laboratório Associado, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua de Diogo Botelho, 1327 4169-005 Porto, Portugal; Business Research Unit (BRU-IUL), University Institute of Lisbon, 7ADF Avenida das Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisboa, Portugal ' CBIOS – Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra, Coimbra Health School, Rua 5 de Outubro-S. Martinho do Bispo, Apartado 7006, 3046-854 Coimbra, Portugal ' CBQF – Centro de Biotecnologia e Química Fina – Laboratório Associado, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Rua de Diogo Botelho, 1327 4169-005 Porto, Portugal

Abstract: This work explores the role of universities in strengthening entrepreneurship and knowledge transfer from academia to industry, specifically focusing on the agri-food sector. It presents a novel methodological approach to support entrepreneurship, valorising academic knowledge and agri-food technology, ultimately, fostering university-industry cooperation (UIC). The study also examines the positive side effects of promoting technology transfer and the market impact of university research resulting from participation in pre-acceleration programs. The findings indicate that the approach effectively promoted entrepreneurship, facilitated technology transfer, initiated new industry-university co-development projects, and improved stakeholder communication. Furthermore, the study reveals that academic entrepreneurship led to several technology transfer conduits besides the creation of spinoffs. It highlights regional innovation challenges, including the need for crucial innovation ecosystem actors, and specific knowledge and tech transfer barriers in agri-food biotechnology. These barriers include the emergence of market-aligned research lines and the development of business competencies among researchers.

Keywords: entrepreneurial competencies; case research; entrepreneurship programs; technology transfer; university-industry cooperation; UIC.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEIM.2024.144402

International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, 2024 Vol.28 No.3/4, pp.148 - 169

Received: 22 Oct 2023
Accepted: 17 May 2024
Published online: 11 Feb 2025 *

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