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Integration versus separation: structure and strategies of the technology transfer office (TTO) in medical research organizations

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  • G. Derrick

Abstract

Establishing technology transfer offices (TTOs) within research organizations is one initiative used to facilitate successful commercialization. Research organizations may choose to either outsource the commercialization expertise (separation model) or incorporate it within their organizational structure (integration model). Ensuring the success of these integration TTOs, face many challenges, including challenges based on tensions from researchers within research organizations about the perceived differences in opinions, rules, norms and reward systems of research and commercialization. Using qualitative data from interviews from researchers and the integrated TTO personnel, this paper describes the interactions of researchers and integrated TTO personnel in five Australian medical research organizations. Despite strong researcher concerns and fears about research commercialization, a number of strategies employed by integrated TTOs were identified to encourage researcher engagement. These include the flexibility of TTO policies to researcher needs; offering collective incentives; and being visible within the organization. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015

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  • G. Derrick, 2015. "Integration versus separation: structure and strategies of the technology transfer office (TTO) in medical research organizations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 40(1), pages 105-122, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:40:y:2015:i:1:p:105-122
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-014-9343-1
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    2. Brantnell, Anders & Baraldi, Enrico, 2022. "Understanding the roles and involvement of technology transfer offices in the commercialization of university research," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 115(C).
    3. Willem van Winden & Iris Hagemans & Patricia van Hemert, 2019. "The Street-Wise University: The Amsterdam Knowledge Mile as an Intermediary and Place-Making Concept," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(8), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Giuri, Paola & Munari, Federico & Scandura, Alessandra & Toschi, Laura, 2019. "The strategic orientation of universities in knowledge transfer activities," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 138(C), pages 261-278.
    5. Dongbo Shi & Yeyanran Ge, 2019. "Academic Engagement and Commercialization in an Institutional Transition Environment: Evidence from Shanghai Maritime University," Papers 1901.07725, arXiv.org.
    6. Schaeffer, Véronique, 2019. "The use of material transfer agreements in academia: A threat to open science or a cooperation tool?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(9), pages 1-1.
    7. Annelore Huyghe & Mirjam Knockaert & Evila Piva & Mike Wright, 2016. "Are researchers deliberately bypassing the technology transfer office? An analysis of TTO awareness," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 589-607, October.
    8. Kim, Young-Choon & Rhee, Mooweon & Kotha, Reddi, 2019. "Many hands: The effect of the prior inventor-intermediaries relationship on academic licensing," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(3), pages 813-829.

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