The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Organizational Studies

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A Perspective on the Commercialization of University Intellectual Property: An Argument for Technology Transfer as an Interdisciplinary Matter


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1 University of South Alabama, United States
     

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This paper stems from the fact the current economic and political environment surrounding public funding of U.S. university research is placing increased attention on its commercialization potential and its role in technology-based economic development. By examining the literature on the concepts of knowledge, invention and innovation, and their inter-relationship with technology transfer, the number and diversity of academic disciplines contributing to the current understanding is revealed. From this perspective, an argument is made that the operational framework surrounding university research commercialization is in fact an interdisciplinary issue. This being the case and with potential policy changes in the offing, policy-making should be considered more holistically than simply through the single lens of economic development, with some unspecified expectation of greater returns on investment.

Keywords

Technology Transfer, Commercialization, Innovation, Invention.
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  • A Perspective on the Commercialization of University Intellectual Property: An Argument for Technology Transfer as an Interdisciplinary Matter

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Authors

William Ker Ferguson
University of South Alabama, United States

Abstract


This paper stems from the fact the current economic and political environment surrounding public funding of U.S. university research is placing increased attention on its commercialization potential and its role in technology-based economic development. By examining the literature on the concepts of knowledge, invention and innovation, and their inter-relationship with technology transfer, the number and diversity of academic disciplines contributing to the current understanding is revealed. From this perspective, an argument is made that the operational framework surrounding university research commercialization is in fact an interdisciplinary issue. This being the case and with potential policy changes in the offing, policy-making should be considered more holistically than simply through the single lens of economic development, with some unspecified expectation of greater returns on investment.

Keywords


Technology Transfer, Commercialization, Innovation, Invention.

References