Abstract
Many American universities have recently established research centers that interact with industrial firms. Such centers have been supported by the federal government whose objective is to enhance technological innovation. For this study, interviews were conducted with liaison persons from the member firms to determine how the firms acquire and use information obtained from the center and why they maintain a relationship with the center. The findings confirm that the center is a useful source of information for the member firms. It clarifies the need for establishing strategies that facilitate the transfer of information without compromising either the center or its members.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
General Accounting Office (May 25, 1983). The Federal Role in Fostering University-Industry Cooperation. GAO/PAD-83-22.
Matlack, Carol (May 23, 1987).Signing Up Science. National Journal, Number 21, pp. 1348–1353.
Walsh, John (April 3, 1987).NSF Puts Big Stake on Research Centers. Science, Volume 236, pp. 18–19.
NSF (November 1984).Cooperative Science: A National Study of University and Industry Researchers, Case Studies, Volume 2.
Deringer, Dorothy K., and Andrew R. Molnar (1983).University, Industry, Federal Cooperation — A Case Study. Science, Technology and Human Values, Volume 8, pp. 40–45.
Baldwin, Donald, and James Green (1984).University-Industry Relations: A Review of the Literature. Society of Research Administrators Journal, pp. 5–17.
Blumenthal, David, Sherrie Epstein, and James Maxwell (June 19, 1986).Commercializing University Research: Lessons from the Experience of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 314, pp. 1621–1626.
Blumenthal, David, Michael Fluck, Karen Seashore Louis, Michael A. Stoto, and David Wise (June 13, 1986).University-Industry Research Relationships in Biotechnology: Implications for the University. Science, Volume 232, pp. 1361–1366.
Blumenthal, David, Michael Gluck, Karen Seashore Louis, and David Wise (January 17, 1986).Industrial Support of University Research in Biotechnology. Science, Volume 231, pp. 242–246.
Geisler, Eliezer (1986).The Role of Industry Advisory Boards in Technology Transfer between Universities and Industry. Journal of Technology Transfer, Volume 10, pp. 33–42.
Devine, Michael D., Thomas E. James, Jr., and Timothy I. Adams (1987).Government Supported Industry-University Research Centers: Issues for Successful Technology Transfer. Journal of Technology Transfer, Volume 12, pp. 27–37.
Sims, Calvin (December 14, 1987). Businss-Campus Ventures Grow. New York Times, p. D1.
Allen, Thomas J., Diane B. Hyman, and David L. Pinckney (1983).Transferring Technology to the Small Manufacturing Firm: A Study of Technology Transfer in Three Countries. Research Policy, Volume 12, pp. 199–211.
von Hippel, Eric (July 1986).Lead Users: A Source of Novel Product Concepts. Management Science, Volume 32, pp. 791–805.
Roberts, Edward D., and Donald H. Peters (1981).Commercial Innovation from University Faculty. Research Policy, Volume 10, pp. 108–126.
Gibbons, M., and R. Johnston (1974).The Roles of Science in Technological Innovation. Research Policy, Volume 3, pp. 220–231.
Allen, Thomas J. (1984).Managing the Flow of Technology. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press.
Allen, Thomas J., Michael L. Tushman and Denis M.S. Lee (December 1979).Technology Transfer as Function of Position in the Spectrum from Research Through Development to Technical Services. Academy of Management Journal, Volume 22, pp. 694–708.
Katz, Ralph, and Thomas J. Allen (1982).Investigating the Not Invented Here (NIH) Syndrome: A Look at the Performance, Tenure, and Communication Patterns of 50 R&D Project Groups. R&D Management, Volume 12, pp. 7–19.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
In the past several years he has been developing technology-transfer expertise as a visiting fellow and scholar with the Mangement of Technology group at MIT's Sloan School of Management. He previously studied university-industry relationships at the Hastings Institute. Since 1988, he has been a senior associate with Pugh-Roberts, a management consulting firm, where he is concentrating on technology strategy and the planning of technology leveraging. Stern has an MD in internal medicine and a Ph.D. in physical biochemistry.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stern, A. Information transfer between an academic research center and its member firms. J Technol Transfer 14, 19–24 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371375
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02371375