Enhancing the role of universities in building national innovative capacity in Asia: the case of Taiwan (original) (raw)
Related papers
2015
The Triple Helix model highlights the "third mission" of universities to engage in IP (intellectual property) creation and technology transfer activities further downstream. This paper uses publications data and US patent data to examine the role played by leading research-intensive universities in the national innovation systems of the emerging economy of China and the newly industrialised economies (NIE) of Singapore, Hong Kong, Korea and Taiwan. Our analysis highlights significant differences amongst these five East Asian economies, and also reveals contrasts to observed patterns in the US and Europe. Our findings confirm that universities in the five economies have increased their contribution to their respective national innovation systems in terms of research output and R&D collaboration. The NIE universities experienced rapid patent growth rates over 1995-2005, followed by Chinese universities in the subsequent period of 2006-2010. However, the contribution of universities in all five East Asian economies to the total volume of IP creation in their economies generally remains low. Moreover, patent quality is low compared to patents from non-university sectors, suggesting weak technological commercialisation impacts.
Managing academic innovation in Taiwan: Towards a ‘scientific–economic’ framework
Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2006
Since the passage of the Science and Technology Basic Law in 1999, Taiwanese universities have taken a more bscientific-economicQ approach to protect and commercialize their research. This research mainly examines innovation activities such as patenting, licensing, and incubated startups in the context of Taiwanese higher education institutions (HEIs). The bscientific-economicQ framework used to analyze the strategic aspects influencing these academic innovations includes (1) intellectual property managerial capabilities, (2) the strength of external industrial partnerships, (3) the university entrepreneurial orientation, and (4) government research policy. Four hypotheses were developed. Data were collected via a questionnaire with all 122 HEIs in Taiwan surveyed. The research reveals that the aspects of intellectual property managerial capability, HEI-industry partnerships, and academic entrepreneurial orientation are useful to distinguish the university's innovation performance on patent grants, licensing incomes, and firm incubation. Also, government support on research plays a moderating
Universities as patent- and licensing income-generating institutions: a survey in Taiwan
International Journal of Technology Management, 2008
This study examines the preliminary results of patenting and licensing activities in Taiwanese Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) from 1997 to 2001. We propose a framework to analyse the influence of a university's internal Intellectual Property Right (IPR) management and external research partnerships on creating income through patenting and licensing. Through a postal questionnaire survey, all 122 HEIs in Taiwan were surveyed. The empirical results demonstrate that internalised IPR management capability and external research partnerships have substantially increased the amount of academic patents and licensing income. The paper reveals that the relation between external research partnership and patterns of academic licensing is moderated by industry research funding, towards more domestic and partner-oriented licensing. This has crucial policy implications for enhancing effective national triple-helix interactions.
Mobilizing technology transfer from university to industry The experience of Hong Kong universities
Purpose – The present paper seeks to illuminate the role played by university-based technology transfer offices (TTOs) in driving the transfer of research-based knowledge and technology from institutions of higher education to industry in Hong Kong. Design/methodology/approach – Following a literature review, the authors use empirical data on technology transfer and innovation, and case studies of existing TTOs at City University of Hong Kong (City U) and Hong Kong University of Technology and Science (HKUST), to analyze and illustrate the changing nature of the role that TTOs have played in Hong Kong, from the late 1980s to the present. Findings – It is found that, while TTOs originally served primarily to generate additional revenues for their affiliated universities through the creation and commercialization of intellectual property, that role has gradually evolved to support innovative start-up companies through technology transfer. Research limitations/implications – This study is limited in having included only two case studies. In the future more cases should be examined, not only of other spin-offs and start-ups from City U and HKUST, but also from other Hong Kong universities as well. The study implies that TTOs should continue to learn how to respond to the needs of start-ups through self-evaluation. Universities should better manage TTOs, and the government, through better understanding of the capacity of TTOs to create spin-offs, should develop policy measures that facilitate the process. Originality/value – This study is among the first to examine the role of TTOs using a case-study approach, especially in addressing the relationship between university-industry linkages and the broader innovation system in Hong Kong.
University-industry-government relations in China: An emergent national system of innovation
Industry and Higher Education, 2001
Since 1992, a new Chinese innovation system has been emerging in terms of university-industry-government relations. In recent years, science parks, incubators, and high-tech development zones have been provided with strong incentives. The commitment of the Chinese government to the further introduction of a market economy has been elaborated with a focus on the knowledge-base. The model of institutional adjustments has been replaced with systemic and evolutionary thinking about niche development and human resource management. Government interventions remain important for interfacing knowledge-based developments with those on the market. For example, new legislation on issues of "intellectual property rights" is crucial to the absorption of venture capital into these developments.
Universities in the National Innovation Systems: Emerging Innovation Landscapes in Asia-Pacific
Historically, universities and institutions of higher learning have gone through three academic revolutions, namely, teaching, research, and innovation. Universities and Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) in the last two decades have come to occupy an important part in the national innovation systems (NIS), which is a complex of 'all important economic, social, political, organizational, institutional and other factors that influence the development, diffusion and use of innovations'. From a broader perspective, universities, together with public Research and Development (R&D) labs and science agencies, public policies (on industry, research, innovation and higher education, etc.) and business enterprises are now considered as important actors in the NIS of Asia-Pacific economies. The rise of Asia in the global knowledge-based economy from mid-1990s is closely associated with the rise of knowledge institutions of higher learning and scientific research output. Every Asia-Pacific country embraced and introduced policies relating to innovation in varying forms. Consultancy and collaborative links with industry being traditional forms of engagement, new policy and institutional measures in technology transfer and innovation to engage with society and business enterprises are gaining prominence. Policies for incubation, start-ups, and spin-offs, technology transfer offices (TTOs), and science and technology parks have gained tremendous prominence in leading Asia-Pacific universities. Different national innovation systems in the Asia-Pacific region have given rise to varying roles of universities. Whilst universities in Southeast Asian countries and India continue to play a traditional role of teaching and generating human capital, there are countries such as Singapore, China, Taiwan, and Japan, wherein universities are being transformed as entrepreneurial universities. Science and innovation policies in these countries have orchestrated the goal direction of universities as frontiers of innovation. Universities in Australia and New Zealand have so far been quite successful in marketing higher education to neighboring Asian countries. They have in recent years begun to embark on innovation and commercialization of research. The paper focuses on South East Asia and draws some comparison with more dynamic university ecosystems in East Asia. In doing so, the paper brings into focus the emerging innovation landscapes across the region.
New Trends in Innovation Strategy at Chinese Universities in Hong Kong and Shenzhen
International Journal of Technology Management
This paper assesses collaborative innovation activity undertaken by universities in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, China. The theoretical background references the systems of innovation approach and the triple helix model of university-industry-government interaction. The paper reviews Hong Kong's tertiary education system and the role of science and technology development in Shenzhen and Mainland China. Focusing on knowledge transfer between university research facilities, research institutes, industry, and government, the paper profiles key collaborative innovation programmes and documents an emerging trend in innovation strategy that utilises innovation collaboration to spawn startup businesses in China. Although we find no definite pattern of university-industry-government collaboration, we identify a range of specific competitive advantages associated with each of Hong Kong's universities that drive their innovation-related collaboration with institutions and firms in other sectors.
University-government partnership in technology transfer: Taiwan's experience
International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2012
Taiwan's industries are primarily comprised of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). These enterprises have a relatively lower capability for self-development; therefore, technology transfer from higher education institutes (HEIs) to SMEs is a critical subject to strengthen the nation's innovation and development. This study analyses HEIs development of technology transfer in the past ten years. The main research questions are the effects of government/university policies, scale and quality of technology transfer offices (TTOs) on university technology transfer. The results show that progressively effective guidance from government resources has been a key factor in the rapid growth of technology transfer. The patent layout of HEIs has a critical impact on technology transfer. Simultaneously, comprehensive cooperation between TTOs in all educational institutes and firms of intellectual property will play the major role in promoting the next phase of vigorous growth in university technology transfer. In addition, since the size of Taiwan's technology market is quite limited, the foreign patent layout and international licensing of HEIs are necessary; and the induction and cultivation of professional personnel is the critical issue to sustainable operations of TTOs in Taiwan.