The Dilemma of Industry-University Cooperation Processes within Technology Transfer Offices: Evidence from Three Brazilian Case Studies

Abstract

This research aimed to identify facilitators and restrictive factors on Technological Transfer by comparing case studies of the Brazilian Technology Transfer Offices (TTO). Industry-University (I-U) cooperation processes enable interacting actors to benefit from partners’ knowledge and resources to achieve better results than being in isolation. The approximation between public universities and industries through their TTO represents a source of competitive advantages for firms that increasingly need subsidies to improve their performances and innovations. Designed through multiple case studies (Federal University of Technology of Parana, Federal University of Parana and State University of Campinas) and supported by the I-U cooperation literature, it was possible to develop a theory based on categories for comparing cases. The three case studies’ results revealed, regarding the restrictive factors, that the federal universities showed an initial cooperation process through their TTO, whereas the state university presented facilitator factors about better-structured cooperative processes and generated returns to the institution. Besides, the federal universities showed restrictive factors from a legal framework (the legislation limits teaching activities outside the university). Another restrictive factor was the changeable professors’ profile and personal interests, which are more dedicated to research and lectures in graduate courses than I-U partnerships. It is recommended to legislators and policy makers consider the professors’ action in I-U partnership as a key to a national policy of regional development through technology transfer policies.

Keywords: Industry-University Cooperation; Technological Development; Technology Transfer; Technology Transfer Office

JEL Classification: N7