Skip to main content
Log in

Industrial practices of research conversion and technology transfer

  • Symposium Accelerating the Conversion of Science to Technology
  • Published:
The Journal of Technology Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The conversion of R&D into commercial new products has long been considered a basic tenet of industrial innovation and competitiveness. This paper describes the key variables that affect the successful commercialization of new technologies in industrial companies. Drawing on the authors' own research and consulting experience with hundreds of US and foreign companies, the paper examines the more effective practices, identifies key barriers and problem areas, and provides some conclusions and implications for practicing managers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Geisler, E. “Key Output Indicators in Performance Evaluation of Research and Development Organizations.”Technological Forecasting and Social Change 47(2), 1994, pp. 12–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geisler, E.. “When Whales Are Cast Ashore: The Conversion to Relevancy of U.S. Basic Research and Universities.”IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 41(1), February, 1995, pp. 3–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geisler, E.. “An Integrated Cost-Performance Model of Research and Development Evaluation.”Omega 23(3), 1995, pp. 281–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geisler, E. “Integrated Figure of Merit of Public Sector Research Evaluation.”Scientometrics 30(3), 1996, pp. 379–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Geisler, E. “Intersector Technology Cooperation: Hard Myths, Soft Facts.”Technovation, 1997 (forthcoming).

  • Geisler, E., and C. Clements.Commercialization of Technology From Federal Laboratories: The Effects of Barriers, Incentives and the Role of Entrepreneurship. Final Report to the National Science Foundation, University of Wisconsin, Whitewater, 1995.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geisler, E., and W. Drago. “Managing Professionals in Interorganizational Cooperative Research Alliances.”Engineering Management Journal 8(4), 1996, pp. 43–50.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geisler, E., A. H. Rubenstein, and P. Sattler. “Measuring the Outputs from University-Industry Interactions: Some Findings from an Empirical Study.”Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Management of Technology, Miami, FL, 1994.

  • Gemunden, H., T. Ritter, and P. Heyderbreck. “Network Configuration and Innovation Success: An Empirical Analysis in German High-Tech Industries.”International Journal of Research in Marketing 13(4), 1996, pp. 449–462.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp, C.The Role of Key Communicators in a Divisionalized Industrial Corporation. Ph.D. Dissertation, Northwestern University, 1983.

  • Kostoff, R.The Handbook of Research Impact Assessment, 6th ed. Fort Belvoir, VA: Office of Naval Research, DTIC Report No. ADA296021, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, S.. “The Art of Selling Your R&D Ideas.”Research Management 24(2), 1981, pp. 7–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath, M., and E. Eldred. “Commercializing New Technology.”Research/Technology Management 40(2), March–April 1997, pp. 29–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath, M., and M. Romeri. “The R&D Effectiveness Index: A Metric for Product Development Performance.”The Journal of Product Innovation Management 11(3), 1994, pp. 213–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nayak, R.. “Measuring Product Creation Effectiveness.”Journal of Business Strategy 13(1), 1992, pp. 48–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prasad, L., and A. H. Rubenstein. “Factors Influencing Power and Organizational Politics During New Product Development.”Journal of Product Innovation Management 10(3), 1993, pp. 221–236.

    Google Scholar 

  • Robb, W.. “How Good is Our Research?”Research/Technology Management 34(2), 1991, pp. 16–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, A. H. “Field Studies of Project Selection Behavior in Industrial Laboratories.” InOperations Research in Research and Development, ed. B. V. Dean. New York: Wiley, 1963, pp. 189–206.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, A. H.Managing Technology in the Decentralized Firm. New York: Wiley Interscience, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, A. H. “Barriers to Successful Technical Entrepreneurship in the Large Firm: Some Case Studies.” presented atThe Institute of Management Sciences National Meeting, Philadelphia, October, 1990.

  • Rubenstein, A. H.. “At the Front End of the R&D/Innovation Process: Idea Development and Entrepreneurship.”International Journal of Technology Management 8 (5/6/7), 1994, pp. 652–677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, A. H.. “Trends in Technology Management Revisited.”IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management 41(4), 1994a, pp. 335–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, A. H., and R. Avery. “Idea Flow in Research and Development.” InProceedings of the National Electronics Conference, Vol. 14, October 1958.

  • Rubenstein, A. H.. “University-Industry Romance.”R&D Innovator 12(1), 1995, pp. 12–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, A. H., C. Douds,et al., “Management Perceptions of Government Incentives to Technological Innovations in England, France, West Germany and Japan.”Research Policy 6(4), 1977, pp. 324–357.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, A. H., and E. Geisler. “Evaluating the Outputs and Impacts of R&D/Innovation.”International Journal of Technology Management 6(5/6/7), 1991, pp. 181–204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rubenstein, A. H., E. Geisler, and A. Cowan. “Patents, Licensing, and Cases in Transfer of Agricultural Technology to Industry.”Proceedings of the Technology Transfer Society International Symposium. Washington, DC: 1983, pp. 102–111.

  • Rubenstein, A. H., and M. Radnor. “Top Management's Role in Research Planning in Large Decentralized Companies.”Proceedings of the IFORS, Oslo, Norway: July 1963.

  • Sen, F., and A. H. Rubenstein. “External Technology and In-House R&D's Facilitative Role.”Journal of Product Innovation Management 6(3), 1989, pp. 181–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Souder, W., and A. Nashar. “A Technology Selection Model for New Product Development and Technology Transfer.”Advances in Global High Technology Management 5, 1995, pp. 225–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tidd, J., J. Bessant, and K. Pavitt.Managing Innovation: Integrating Technological, Organizational and Market Change. New York: John Wiley & Sons, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, B., and W. Souder. “Measuring R&D Performance—State of the Art.”Research/Technology Management 40(2), 1997, pp. 34–42.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rubenstein, A.H., Geisler, E. & Abeysinghe, R. Industrial practices of research conversion and technology transfer. J Technol Transfer 22, 49–56 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509162

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02509162

Keywords

Navigation