IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/jtecht/v50y2025i2d10.1007_s10961-024-10109-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Help those helping others - the role of universities in facilitating digitalisation and virtualisation in non-profit organisations

Author

Listed:
  • Abdul Jabbar

    (University of Leicester)

  • Chrysostomos Apostolidis

    (Durham University)

  • Ning Baines

    (University of Leicester)

  • Anthony Devine

    (University of Glasgow)

  • Michael Christofi

    (Cyprus University of Technology)

  • Siddhi Trivedi

    (Siddhi Trivedi, Founder Beyond Indentity.IO)

Abstract

In this paper we explore the role of universities in supporting the adoption of digitalisation and virtualisation technologies in non-profit organisations, through the development of strategic partnerships. Despite the increasing interest in technology transfer and adoption in various industries, there is currently very limited research on the opportunities and challenges digital technologies can create for organisations supporting societal change. By adopting a Service-Dominant logic (S-D logic) lens, we explore technology transfer as an interaction between organisations, and we use in-depth interviews with 13 non-profit organisations based in the UK, to understand better their current level of technology adoption and the challenges they face in the technology adoption process. We then explore how universities, as strategic partners, can act as intermediaries, supporting more meaningful technology adoption by non-profits and their stakeholders. We conclude that universities need to move beyond their focus on the dyadic relationships with industry and consider themselves as facilitators of interactions and value co-creation within the wider technology transfer ecosystem, as they need to consider several diverse stakeholders if they are to support the digitisation and virtualisation in non-profits.

Suggested Citation

  • Abdul Jabbar & Chrysostomos Apostolidis & Ning Baines & Anthony Devine & Michael Christofi & Siddhi Trivedi, 2025. "Help those helping others - the role of universities in facilitating digitalisation and virtualisation in non-profit organisations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 488-515, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:50:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10961-024-10109-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s10961-024-10109-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10961-024-10109-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s10961-024-10109-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Albats, Ekaterina & Alexander, Allen T. & Cunningham, James A., 2022. "Traditional, virtual, and digital intermediaries in university-industry collaboration: exploring institutional logics and bounded rationality," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Christopher S. Hayter & Jacob H. Rooksby, 2016. "A legal perspective on university technology transfer," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 41(2), pages 270-289, April.
    3. Swen Nadkarni & Reinhard Prügl, 2021. "Digital transformation: a review, synthesis and opportunities for future research," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 71(2), pages 233-341, April.
    4. Robert Huggins & Daniel Prokop & Piers Thompson, 2020. "Universities and open innovation: the determinants of network centrality," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 718-757, June.
    5. A. Alexander & D. P. Martin & C. Manolchev & K. Miller, 2020. "University–industry collaboration: using meta-rules to overcome barriers to knowledge transfer," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 371-392, April.
    6. Valeria Arza & Mariela Carattoli, 2017. "Personal ties in university-industry linkages: a case-study from Argentina," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(4), pages 814-840, August.
    7. M. O'Dwyer & R. Filieri & L. O'Malley, 2023. "Establishing successful university–industry collaborations: barriers and enablers deconstructed," Post-Print hal-04779125, HAL.
    8. Carmen Talavera & Joan R. Sanchis, 2020. "Alliances between For-Profit and Non-Profit Organizations as an Instrument to Implement the Economy for the Common Good," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-22, November.
    9. Bodas Freitas, Isabel Maria & Marques, Rosane Argou & Silva, Evando Mirra de Paula e, 2013. "University–industry collaboration and innovation in emergent and mature industries in new industrialized countries," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 443-453.
    10. Sascha Kraus & Norat Roig-Tierno & Ricarda B. Bouncken, 2019. "Digital innovation and venturing: an introduction into the digitalization of entrepreneurship," Review of Managerial Science, Springer, vol. 13(3), pages 519-528, June.
    11. A. Alexander & Dominique Philippe Martin & C. Manolchev & K. Miller, 2020. "University–industry collaboration: using meta-rules to overcome barriers to knowledge transfer," Post-Print halshs-01935697, HAL.
    12. Gabriela Fernandes & David O’Sullivan, 2023. "Project management practices in major university-industry R&D collaboration programs – a case study," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 361-391, February.
    13. Alshawaaf, Nasser & Lee, Soo Hee, 2021. "Business model innovation through digitisation in social purpose organisations: A comparative analysis of Tate Modern and Pompidou Centre," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 597-608.
    14. Simms, Christopher & Frishammar, Johan, 2024. "Technology transfer challenges in asymmetric alliances between high-technology and low-technology firms," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 53(3).
    15. Bstieler, Ludwig & Hemmert, Martin & Barczak, Gloria, 2017. "The changing bases of mutual trust formation in inter-organizational relationships: A dyadic study of university-industry research collaborations," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 47-54.
    16. L. Plé & R. Chumpitaz, 2010. "Not always co-creation: introducing interactional co-destruction of value in service-dominant logic," Post-Print halshs-00588239, HAL.
    17. Sebastian Kobarg & Jutta Stumpf-Wollersheim & Isabell M. Welpe, 2018. "University-industry collaborations and product innovation performance: the moderating effects of absorptive capacity and innovation competencies," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 43(6), pages 1696-1724, December.
    18. Amalya L. Oliver & Kathleen Montgomery & Shimrit Barda, 2020. "The multi-level process of trust and learning in university–industry innovation collaborations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 758-779, June.
    19. Tolu Olarewaju & Samir Dani & Abdul Jabbar, 2023. "A Comprehensive Model for Developing SME Net Zero Capability Incorporating Grey Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, March.
    20. Emilio Bellini & Giuseppe Piroli & Luca Pennacchio, 2019. "Collaborative know-how and trust in university–industry collaborations: empirical evidence from ICT firms," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(6), pages 1939-1963, December.
    21. Amalya L. Oliver, 2022. "Holistic ecosystems for enhancing innovative collaborations in university–industry consortia," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 1612-1628, October.
    22. Guerrero, Maribel & Cunningham, James A. & Urbano, David, 2015. "Economic impact of entrepreneurial universities’ activities: An exploratory study of the United Kingdom," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(3), pages 748-764.
    23. Julian Marius Müller & Daniel Kiel & Kai-Ingo Voigt, 2018. "What Drives the Implementation of Industry 4.0? The Role of Opportunities and Challenges in the Context of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-24, January.
    24. Diana Limburg & Cathy Knowles & Maureen McCulloch & Laura Spira, 2017. "Integrated performance management using information technology: a study of UK charities," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(3), pages 181-188, April.
    25. Michele O’Dwyer & Raffaele Filieri & Lisa O’Malley, 2023. "Establishing successful university–industry collaborations: barriers and enablers deconstructed," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 48(3), pages 900-931, June.
    26. Ferraris, Alberto & Belyaeva, Zhanna & Bresciani, Stefano, 2020. "The role of universities in the Smart City innovation: Multistakeholder integration and engagement perspectives," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 163-171.
    27. Elena Giaretta, 2014. "The trust “builders” in the technology transfer relationships: an Italian science park experience," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(5), pages 675-687, October.
    28. Vincenzo Butticè & Silvio Vismara, 2022. "Inclusive digital finance: the industry of equity crowdfunding," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(4), pages 1224-1241, August.
    29. Caputo, Andrea & Pizzi, Simone & Pellegrini, Massimiliano M. & Dabić, Marina, 2021. "Digitalization and business models: Where are we going? A science map of the field," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 489-501.
    30. Siachou, Evangelia & Vrontis, Demetris & Trichina, Eleni, 2021. "Can traditional organizations be digitally transformed by themselves? The moderating role of absorptive capacity and strategic interdependence," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 408-421.
    31. David Audretsch, 2014. "From the entrepreneurial university to the university for the entrepreneurial society," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 39(3), pages 313-321, June.
    32. Rudi Bekkers & Bodas Freitas, 2008. "Analysing preferences for knowledge transfer channels between universities and industry: To what degree do sectors also matter?," Grenoble Ecole de Management (Post-Print) hal-01487467, HAL.
    33. Bekkers, Rudi & Bodas Freitas, Isabel Maria, 2008. "Analysing knowledge transfer channels between universities and industry: To what degree do sectors also matter?," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(10), pages 1837-1853, December.
    34. Mingyu Tian & Yiwei Su & Zhong Yang, 2022. "University–industry collaboration and firm innovation: an empirical study of the biopharmaceutical industry," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(5), pages 1488-1505, October.
    35. Abdul Jabbar & Samir Dani, 2020. "Investigating the link between transaction and computational costs in a blockchain environment," International Journal of Production Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 58(11), pages 3423-3436, June.
    36. Roncancio-Marin, Jason & Dentchev, Nikolay & Guerrero, Maribel & Díaz-González, Abel & Crispeels, Thomas, 2022. "University-Industry joint undertakings with high societal impact: A micro-processes approach," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 174(C).
    37. Bresciani, Stefano & Ciampi, Francesco & Meli, Francesco & Ferraris, Alberto, 2021. "Using big data for co-innovation processes: Mapping the field of data-driven innovation, proposing theoretical developments and providing a research agenda," International Journal of Information Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(C).
    38. Vrontis, Demetris & Siachou, Evangelia & Sakka, Georgia & Chatterjee, Sheshadri & Chaudhuri, Ranjan & Ghosh, Arka, 2022. "Societal effects of social media in organizations: Reflective points deriving from a systematic literature review and a bibliometric meta-analysis," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 40(2), pages 151-162.
    39. Abreu, Maria & Grinevich, Vadim, 2013. "The nature of academic entrepreneurship in the UK: Widening the focus on entrepreneurial activities," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(2), pages 408-422.
    40. Silvio Vismara, 2022. "Expanding corporate finance perspectives to equity crowdfunding," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(6), pages 1629-1639, December.
    41. Bozeman, Barry, 2000. "Technology transfer and public policy: a review of research and theory," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 29(4-5), pages 627-655, April.
    42. Baek, Tae Hyun & Yoon, Sukki, 2022. "Pride and gratitude: Egoistic versus altruistic appeals in social media advertising," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 142(C), pages 499-511.
    43. Mora-Valentin, Eva M. & Montoro-Sanchez, Angeles & Guerras-Martin, Luis A., 2004. "Determining factors in the success of R&D cooperative agreements between firms and research organizations," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(1), pages 17-40, January.
    44. David J. Jefferson & Magali Maida & Alexander Farkas & Monica Alandete-Saez & Alan B. Bennett, 2017. "Technology transfer in the Americas: common and divergent practices among major research universities and public sector institutions," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 42(6), pages 1307-1333, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Riikka M. Sarala & Shlomo Y. Tarba & Nadia Zahoor & Huda Khan & Sir Cary L. Cooper & Ahmad Arslan, 2025. "The impact of digitalization and virtualization on technology transfer in strategic collaborative partnerships," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(2), pages 399-416, April.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wenjing Wang & Yiwei Liu, 2022. "Does University-industry innovation community affect firms’ inventions? The mediating role of technology transfer," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 906-935, June.
    2. Igors Skute & Kasia Zalewska-Kurek & Isabella Hatak & Petra Weerd-Nederhof, 2019. "Mapping the field: a bibliometric analysis of the literature on university–industry collaborations," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 44(3), pages 916-947, June.
    3. Clauss, Thomas & Kesting, Tobias & Franco, Matheus, 2024. "Innovation generation through formalisation and fairness in university – Industry collaboration," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    4. Carla Mascarenhas & Telma Mendes & Anderson R. Galvão & Carla S. Marques & João J. Ferreira, 2024. "Academic researchers’ motivations to engage in university–industry collaboration in cross-border regions," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 2104-2134, December.
    5. Compagnucci, Lorenzo & Spigarelli, Francesca, 2020. "The Third Mission of the university: A systematic literature review on potentials and constraints," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    6. Véronique Schaeffer & Sıla Öcalan-Özel & Julien Pénin, 2020. "The complementarities between formal and informal channels of university–industry knowledge transfer: a longitudinal approach," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 45(1), pages 31-55, February.
    7. Degl’Innocenti, Marta & Matousek, Roman & Tzeremes, Nickolaos G., 2019. "The interconnections of academic research and universities’ “third mission”: Evidence from the UK," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(9), pages 1-1.
    8. Freel, Mark & Persaud, Ajax & Chamberlin, Tyler, 2019. "Faculty ideals and universities' third mission," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 10-21.
    9. R. Núñez-Sánchez & A. Barge-Gil & A. Modrego-Rico, 2012. "Performance of knowledge interactions between public research centres and industrial firms in Spain: a project-level analysis," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 37(3), pages 330-354, June.
    10. Paolo Carioli & Dirk Czarnitzki & Christian Rammer, 2024. "Industry-Science-Interaction in Innovation: The Role of Transfer Channels and Policy Support," Working Papers of Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven 751257, KU Leuven, Faculty of Economics and Business (FEB), Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation, Leuven.
    11. Uwe Cantner & Martin Kalthaus & Indira Yarullina, 2024. "Outcomes of science-industry collaboration: factors and interdependencies," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 49(2), pages 542-580, April.
    12. Margit Kirs & Veiko Lember & Erkki Karo, 2021. "Technology transfer in economic periphery: Emerging patterns and policy challenges," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 38(6), pages 677-706, November.
    13. Rossi, Federica & De Silva, Muthu & Pavone, Pasquale & Rosli, Ainurul & Yip, Nick K.T., 2024. "Proximity and impact of university-industry collaborations. A topic detection analysis of impact reports," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    14. Muscio, Alessandro & Ramaciotti, Laura, 2019. "How does academia influence Ph.D. entrepreneurship? New insights on the entrepreneurial university," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 82, pages 16-24.
    15. Min Zhang & Jingjing Zeng, 2025. "Which governance structures are conducive to the performance of TTOs? Evidence from Taiwan," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 50(1), pages 271-303, February.
    16. Diekhoff, Josefine & Krieger, Bastian & Licht, Georg & Rammer, Christian, 2019. "Stand der Messung von Interaktionen zwischen Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft im internationalen Vergleich," ZEW Expertises, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, number 248650.
    17. Timo Kleiner-Schaefer & Kerstin J. Schaefer, 2022. "Barriers to university–industry collaboration in an emerging market: Firm-level evidence from Turkey," The Journal of Technology Transfer, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 872-905, June.
    18. Adegbile, Abiodun Samuel & Sarpong, David & Kolade, Oluwaseun, 2021. "Environments for Joint University-Industry Laboratories (JUIL): Micro-level dimensions and research implications," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    19. Carla Mascarenhas & Carla Marques & João J. Ferreira & Anderson Galvão, 2022. "University-Industry Collaboration in a Cross-Border Iberian Regions," International Regional Science Review, , vol. 45(4), pages 444-471, July.
    20. Andrea Bonaccorsi & Daniele Biancardi & Mabel Sanchez Barrioluengo & Federico Biagi, 2019. "Study on Higher Education Institutions and Local Development," JRC Research Reports JRC117272, Joint Research Centre.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:jtecht:v:50:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s10961-024-10109-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.