University technology transfer efficiency in a factor driven economy: the need for a coherent policy in Egypt

Abstract

The article examines the effectiveness of instruments to promote technology transfer and foster entrepreneurial innovation in Egypt where there are individual measures but no comprehensive, unified policy or strategy to promote the transfer and commercialisation of the intellectual property stemming from university research. The study examines the extent of technology transfer in the country and the effectiveness of the various existing measures through a four-phase investigation involving in-depth interviews with experts, a questionnaire survey of 400 Egyptian Science, Engineering and Technology academics, three case studies of Technology Transfer Offices and a 237 respondent industry survey. The results indicate that despite the measures that have been introduced, there is little university–industry collaboration and that the interventions are of limited effectiveness. The article concludes that there is a need for a broad, national co-ordinating policy that encourages universities and industry to collaborate, particularly on research, and to engage in the transference and commercialisation of technology.

Appendices

Appendix 1: Survey of SET academics

The British University in Egypt.

Research on university–industry collaboration and knowledge transfer

In the modern knowledge economy that characterises the twenty-first century, university–industry collaboration is of increasing importance. Accordingly, we are undertaking research into such collaboration in Egypt and would be extremely grateful if you could complete this short questionnaire. It should take you no more than 20 min. Naturally your answers will be treated in strictest confidence and analysed anonymously on an aggregate basis.

The quality and accuracy of all such research depends on your contribution so I urge you to participate fully, as we want the research to be of benefit both to you and Egypt.

Thank you for your co-operation.

On a scale of 1–5, where 1 means you strongly disagree and 5 means you strongly agree, please rate each of these below statements in the blank column provided. A score of 3 would mean

Statement
Ratings (1–5)
Innovation
More needs to be done if universities are to fulfill their potential in the innovation process
It needs to be clear why universities should be involved
The promotions laws need to recognize applied research and patent application
There is a need for training
Universities need to be permitted to be more autonomous
Egypt has weak policies to increase the capacity to innovate from the part of the university and research institutes
The funding for research and innovatory projects needs to be increased
Universities must be encouraged to solve problems relevant to the needs of the market through their research
The government needs to have a coherent policy towards increasing the capacity for innovation and university–industry research
Innovators must be supported and rewarded
Part or complete tax exemptions need to be introduced for innovatory projects in order to motivate industry to activate their R&D departments or/and link with universities
The bureaucratic rules that discourage the registration of IPR need to be reduced
Bureaucracy needs to be kept to a minimum
Universities need to be encouraged to work with business
Universities should be required to conduct leading edge research
Academics should be encouraged and supported to bring main findings to market
A “can do” culture needs to be fostered in universities to encourage staff to try new things
There needs to be a programme for capacity building
Teaching
Universities teach innovation and entrepreneurship as part of the curriculum
Universities equip students with: knowledge to innovate/skill to innovate
Universities are not producing creative graduates who can innovate
The curriculum depends: on rote memorization/dated teaching methods
Universities have too many students
There is the ability to increase the pool of innovative students
Teaching in universities needs to be geared more towards industry needs in terms of problems faced and new developments
Universities can and do produce creative graduates who can innovate but not in all specialties and on a very small scale as this is only a recent development
Universities produce graduates that are not fit for the labour market
R&D
Universities have R&D activities
University R&D impacts strongly on innovation
There is collaboration in research between universities and industry
There are cost pressures in universities that impede R&D
Universities constitute an important input to industry R&D
University budgets allow for R&D
Research in the university needs to be geared more towards industry needs in terms of problems faced and new developments
Universities have strong research environments
Technology commercialisation
There are too few university start-up and spin-out companies based on innovative ideas coming from university research and laboratories
The mechanisms that allow universities to create links with companies are missing
Universities have to avoid moving towards a profit company
Universities do not understand the needs of the economy
Business is considered to be a shameful word by most academics
Universities have an important role to play in technology commercialisation
The involvement of Egyptian universities in technology commercialisation is limited
University research is not sufficiently innovative to commercialise
Universities have very few patents due to ignorance of the patents law and weak information about IP which leads to no encouragement for inventive ideas and no governmental regulations to govern technology commercialisation
The current universities’ law does not allow commercialisation
State university staff are not allowed to become part or full partners in enterprises (spin-offs)
Egypt’s universities are not involved in technology commercialisation. It is the role of start-up firms and entrepreneurs. That’s why collaboration with industry is important
Universities are not involved in technology commercialisation because there is no expert database
No risk taking is allowed in universities
Industry benefits from university research
Technology transfer
Universities have a role to play in technology transfer
Scientific publication is a way to transfer technological knowledge to industry
Seminars are a way to transfer technological knowledge to industry
Workshops are a way to transfer technological knowledge to industry
Technology spillovers from universities benefit industry
The transfer of technology from university to industry is affected by geographical distance
Revenue generation is the main goal of universities in technology transfer
The cost of technology transfer affects the innovation process
Some universities are involved in technology transfer through joint programmes with international universities and guest lecturers
There is a lack of trust between university and industry
Universities lack the organizing mechanisms for the proper management of formal relationships with industry
University and industry are on a different wave length
Currently, universities are not working effectively with industry
There is a mutual link between industry and university
Universities offer consultancy to industry to solve problems
Industry does not value the impact of scientific research from universities
Universities often work with industry because according to the law of scientific research, taxes are decreased for scientific research and there is the training of personnel
Sometimes there are centres inside universities dealing with industry but the link is weak
Universities are not oriented to the needs of industry
The ecosystem
The infrastructure of universities encourages innovation
There are too few incentives to universities to encourage innovation
There are people in universities who can help raise funding for innovation
Universities compete in terms of innovation
Universities are part of an ecosystem that encourages innovation
Universities should concentrate on “market pull” not “technology-push”
Co-operation between universities and industry promotes innovation
Size affects the capacity of universities to innovate
The location of a university helps promote innovation
The government has a policy towards increasing the capacity for innovation and university–industry research
There are mechanisms that have been in place for several years which support university–industry collaboration
There needs to be a national policy that encourages universities to get involved with the “third” mission
Support needed
More needs to be done if universities are to fulfil their potential in the innovation process
It needs to be clear why universities should be involved
The promotions laws need to recognize applied research and patent application
There is a need for training
Universities need to be permitted to be more autonomous
Egypt has weak policies to increase the capacity to innovate from the part of the university and research institutes
The funding for research and innovatory projects needs to be increased
Universities must be encouraged to solve problems relevant to the needs of the market through their research
The government needs to have a coherent policy towards increasing the capacity for innovation and university–industry research
Innovators must be supported and rewarded
Part or complete tax exemptions need to be introduced for innovatory projects in order to motivate industry to activate their R&D departments or/and link with universities
The bureaucratic rules that discourage the registration of IPR need to be reduced
Bureaucracy needs to be kept to a minimum
Universities need to be encouraged to work with business
Universities should be required to conduct leading edge research
Academics should be encouraged and supported to bring main findings to market
A “can do” culture needs to be fostered in universities to encourage staff to try new things
There needs to be a programme for capacity building

Appendix 2: Case study interview schedule

In the modern knowledge economy that characterises the twenty-first century, knowledge transfer and university–industry collaboration is of increasing importance. Accordingly, we are undertaking research into such collaboration in Egypt and I am extremely grateful to you for agreeing to this interview. I want to use it as the basis for a case study of the xyz TICO. Clearly, I will not publish anything without first consulting you on the accuracy of the case and without your prior approval.

We want the research to be of benefit to both you and Egypt so thank you once again for your co-operation.

• When was the office created?

• Why was the office created?

• Whose idea was it?

• How was/is it funded?

• Initially?

• Now?

• How many staff does the office have?

• What does it do exactly?

• What has it achieved?

• What challenges does it face?

• What support does it receive and from where?

• What support is needed?

• What are the plans for the future?

• How can we collaborate?

Appendix 3: Industry Questionnaire

The British University in Egypt.

Research on university–industry collaboration

In the modern knowledge economy that characterises the twenty-first century, university–industry collaboration and knowledge transfer are of increasing importance. Accordingly, we are undertaking research into such collaboration in Egypt and would be extremely grateful if you could complete this short questionnaire. It should take you no more than 10 min. Naturally your answers will be treated in strictest confidence and analysed anonymously on an aggregate basis.

The quality and accuracy of all such research depends on your contribution so I urge you to participate fully, as we want the research to be of benefit to you and Egypt.

Thank you for your co-operation.