National technology transfer centers : an efficient policy instrument to capitalize university research findings ?

This paper will examine whether national technology transfer centers (NTTCs) function as an effective policy instrument in promoting the commercialization of university research findings. On the basis of 7 sampled universities, we place our research focus on the role of NTTCs, the performance of NTTCs and the determinants of effectiveness of NTTCs. Academic publications, patents, technology transfer income and revenu generated by spinoffs are used as indicators to assess the effectiveness of NTTCs. Our qualitative and quantitative study provides evidence that NTTCs are not an effective policy tool in accelerating the commercialization of university inventions. Universities without NTTCs can achieve the same or even greater success than universities with NTTCs. We suggest that universities should provide an attractive reward system and automony to NTTCs for stimulating their efforts in marketing patented technology.