Technology Transfers from Public-funded Research Organizations: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Public-funded Research Organizations (PROs) are a class of research organizations carrying out R&D for the growth of industrial economy. These are distinct from University Research Organizations (UROs), despite both being publicly funded. While UROs are populated with student-faculty teams focused on academic research, PROs are populated with full-time professional researchers focusing largely on post-academic research. Technology transfers from PROs are important for national economic development and hence are worth a study. The objective of this paper is to study literature to (a) explore tech-transfer characteristics such as mechanisms, actors, success factors, stages, and models, and b) to gather any relevant insights. The method of Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was adopted for this study. Compared to conventional narrative review, SLR offers a replicable, scientific, and transparent process that aims to minimize bias and provides an audit trail of the reviewer’s decisions. Hence, SLR by itself is considered a research. Among the various methods for the literature-analysis such as bibliographic analysis, meta-analysis and thematic analysis, this paper adopts thematic analysis consistent with the objectives of research and the limited size of the literature on the topic. Focusing chiefly on recent literature on domestic technology transfers from PROs, this work provides useful insights.