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Knowledge transfer in academia: an exploratory study on the Not-Invented-Here Syndrome

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  • David Grosse Kathoefer
  • Jens Leker

Abstract

Today’s society is often claimed to be the “knowledge society”. Knowledge transfer plays a pivotal role in the whole economic system, influencing innovation management in its very core. This study deals with one of the barriers that might hamper knowledge transfer: The Not-Invented-Here Syndrome (NIH). Until now, this phenomenon was mainly analyzed in an industrial context. However, as the universities play an increasingly important role in the knowledge society, the time seems ripe to analyze this barrier of knowledge transfer in an academic context. This paper examines the influence of the research discipline, the scientific output, the attitude towards basic science and the project experience on NIH by analyzing a sample of 166 Austrian professors from the fields of physics and engineering. While we cannot find a significant impact of the first two aspects, we can demonstrate that the latter two do have a significant influence on NIH. Summing up, this study supports results from the existing literature on NIH and sheds light on new aspects providing deeper insights into the comprehension of this complex phenomenon. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2012

Suggested Citation

  • David Grosse Kathoefer & Jens Leker, 2012. "Knowledge transfer in academia: an exploratory study on the Not-Invented-Here Syndrome," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 37(5), pages 658-675, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:37:y:2012:i:5:p:658-675
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-010-9204-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Ulrich Lichtenthaler, 2020. "Building Blocks of Successful Digital Transformation: Complementing Technology and Market Issues," International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management (IJITM), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 17(01), pages 1-14, February.
    2. Marion A. Weissenberger-Eibl & Tim Hampel, 2021. "Bridging the gap: integrating external knowledge from open innovation platforms," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(7), pages 1-32, July.
    3. Amann, Marie & Granström, Gabriel & Frishammar, Johan & Elfsberg, Jenny, 2022. "Mitigating not-invented-here and not-sold-here problems: The role of corporate innovation hubs," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    4. Cleverton Rodrigues Fernandes & André Gustavo Carvalho Machado, 2019. "Technology Transfer Capability: development dynamics in higher education institutions," Brazilian Business Review, Fucape Business School, vol. 16(1), pages 1-15, January.
    5. Matthias R. Guertler & Udo Lindemann, 2016. "Identifying Open Innovation Partners: A Methodology For Strategic Partner Selection," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 20(05), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Ismail, Muhammad & Bello-Pintado, Alejandro & García-Marco, Teresa & Lazzarotti, Valentina, 2023. "Enhancing open innovation: Managing not invented here syndrome in collaborative projects," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    7. Berbegal-Mirabent, Jasmina & Llopis-Albert, Carlos, 2016. "Applications of fuzzy logic for determining the driving forces in collaborative research contracts," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 1446-1451.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Not-Invented-Here Syndrome; University; Collaboration; Innovation; Knowledge transfer; Physics; Engineering; D01; D83; L32; O31; O32; O33;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D01 - Microeconomics - - General - - - Microeconomic Behavior: Underlying Principles
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • L32 - Industrial Organization - - Nonprofit Organizations and Public Enterprise - - - Public Enterprises; Public-Private Enterprises
    • O31 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Innovation and Invention: Processes and Incentives
    • O32 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Management of Technological Innovation and R&D
    • O33 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights - - - Technological Change: Choices and Consequences; Diffusion Processes

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