| In an era of decreasing financial resources and increased expectation for universities to be engines of economic growth, technology transfer and the commercialization of university research has taken on increased importance.; A survey of 755 engineering faculty at six AAU institutions found: (1) that faculty at more active technology transfer institutions held more positive views and attitudes about technology transfer, (2) faculty in higher academic ranks (Full Professor or Associate Professor) were more positive about technology transfer than Assistant Professors, (3) faculty attitudes about the effect of technology transfer on the notion of academic work was the best predictor of faculty involvement in technology transfer, and, (4) the more faculty were involved in technology transfer, the less positive were they regarding its rewards.; The importance of institutional culture and climate was noted throughout the literature; this study suggests that theories of institutional isomorphism and resource dependency may be helpful in explaining university and faculty involvement in technology transfer. Institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Stanford and University of Wisconsin have a rich history, culture and support for technology transfer activities, and have created a "cumulative advantage" fostering such commercialization endeavors.; For faculty on the margins of technology transfer activity, institutional policy makers may build upon the generally positive faculty views about their institution's role in economic development and technology transfer found in this study. Institutional policy makers should endeavor to make technology transfer more like "academic work" and address concerns regarding the effect of commercialization involvement in terms of publishing, professional promotion and review practices. For faculty already involved in technology transfer, institutional policy makers should address the way the rewards of technology transfer are structured, to provide the best incentives for faculty involvement.; Because of the importance of institutional culture and climate, and because of the interactivity and complexity of variables related to successful commercialization of university research, future research should: (1) include a broad representation of disciplinary perspectives, (2) take a longitudinal approach to such a study, (3) include institutions with a strong technology transfer track record, and (4) include faculty who are active in technology transfer. |
