Title: A framework for government support mechanisms aimed at enhancing university technology transfer: the Norwegian case

Authors: Einar Rasmussen; Mark P. Rice

Addresses: Bodø Graduate School of Business, 8049 Bodø, Norway. ' School of Business, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609-2280, USA

Abstract: This paper presents a conceptual framework for overcoming the gap between academic research and commercial application, including the mechanisms through which government support can facilitate the transfer of research-based technologies into commercial application. The efforts made by the Norwegian Government to promote commercialisation of university research are presented and analysed. Based on the Norwegian experience, we describe three mechanisms for promoting the commercialisation of university research: 1) extending academic research into development 2) extending the role of commercial actors and investors who are |receivers| of technologies developed on the basis of academic research 3) supporting the development and engagement of intermediators. The three mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, and implemented together can result in synergies that improve the yield from efforts to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application.

Keywords: commercialisation; university research; government support mechanisms; technology transfer intermediators; Norway; technology transfer; universities; academic research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2012.043934

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2012 Vol.11 No.1/2, pp.1 - 25

Published online: 21 Nov 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article