Academic Engagement and Commercialisation: A Review of the Literature on University-Industry Relations

55 Pages Posted: 20 Jun 2012 Last revised: 19 Sep 2013

See all articles by Markus Perkmann

Markus Perkmann

Imperial College Business School

Valentina Tartari

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics

Maureen McKelvey

University of Gothenburg

Erkko Autio

Imperial College Business School; Tilburg University School of Economics and Management

Anders Broström

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH); Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) - Center of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies

Pablo D'Este

Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) - Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Management, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV)

Riccardo Fini

University of Bologna - Department of Management

Aldo Geuna

University of Turin - Department Cultures, Politics and Society

Rosa Grimaldi

University of Bologna - Department of Management

Alan Hughes

University of Cambridge - Centre for Business Research (CBR)

M. Kitson

University of Cambridge - St Catharine's College

Stefan Krabel

University of Kassel - Economics

Patrick Llerena

BETA - University of Strasbourg

Francesco Lissoni

CRIOS - Bocconi University; University of Bordeaux - GREThA

Ammon Salter

University of Bath - School of Management

Maurizio Sobrero

University of Bologna - Department of Management

Date Written: June 20, 2012

Abstract

A considerable body of work highlights the relevance of collaborative research, contract research, consulting and informal relationships for university-industry knowledge transfer. We present a systematic review of research on academic scientists’ involvement in these activities to which we refer as ‘academic engagement’. Apart from extracting findings that are generalisable across studies, we ask how academic engagement differs from commercialization, defined as intellectual property creation and academic entrepreneurship. We identify the individual, organizational and institutional antecedents and consequences of academic engagement, and then compare these findings with the antecedents and consequences of commercialization. Apart from being more widely practiced, academic engagement is distinct from commercialization in that it is closely aligned with traditional academic research activities, and pursued by academics to access resources supporting their research agendas. We conclude by identifying future research needs, opportunities for methodological improvement and policy interventions.

(Published version available via open access)

Keywords: University-industry relations, technology transfer, academic entrepreneurship, commercialisation, collaborative research, academic consulting

Suggested Citation

Perkmann, Markus and Tartari, Valentina and McKelvey, Maureen and Autio, Erkko and Broström, Anders and D'Este, Pablo and Fini, Riccardo and Geuna, Aldo and Grimaldi, Rosa and Hughes, Alan and Kitson, Michael and Krabel, Stefan and Llerena, Patrick and Lissoni, Francesco and Lissoni, Francesco and Salter, Ammon and Sobrero, Maurizio, Academic Engagement and Commercialisation: A Review of the Literature on University-Industry Relations (June 20, 2012). Research Policy 42(2): 423-442., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2088253 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2088253

Markus Perkmann (Contact Author)

Imperial College Business School ( email )

London, SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom

Valentina Tartari

Copenhagen Business School - Department of Innovation and Organizational Economics ( email )

Kilevej 14A
Frederiksberg, 2000
Denmark

Maureen McKelvey

University of Gothenburg ( email )

Viktoriagatan 30
Göteborg, 405 30
Sweden

Erkko Autio

Imperial College Business School ( email )

South Kensington Campus
Exhibition Road
London SW7 2AZ, SW7 2AZ
United Kingdom
+447786226452 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/erkko.autio

Tilburg University School of Economics and Management ( email )

P.O. Box 90153
Tilburg, 5000 LE
Netherlands

Anders Broström

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) ( email )

Lindstedtsvägen 30-100 44
Stockholm, SE-100 44
Sweden

Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) - Center of Excellence for Science and Innovation Studies ( email )

Drottning Kristinas väg 30
Stockholm, SE-100 44
Sweden

Pablo D'Este

Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) - Institute of Innovation and Knowledge Management, INGENIO (CSIC-UPV) ( email )

Camino de Vera s/n, Edif.8E, Univ.Politec.Valencia
Valencia, 46022
Spain

Riccardo Fini

University of Bologna - Department of Management ( email )

Via Terracini 28
Bologna, 40131
Italy

HOME PAGE: http://www.unibo.it/faculty/riccardo.fini

Aldo Geuna

University of Turin - Department Cultures, Politics and Society ( email )

Lungo Dora Siena 100 A
Torino, 10153
Italy

Rosa Grimaldi

University of Bologna - Department of Management ( email )

Piazza Scaravilli 1
Bologna, Bologna 40126
Italy

Alan Hughes

University of Cambridge - Centre for Business Research (CBR) ( email )

Top Floor, Judge Business School Building
Trumpington Street
Cambridge, CB2 1AG
United Kingdom
+44 1223 765335 (Phone)

Michael Kitson

University of Cambridge - St Catharine's College ( email )

Trinity Ln
Cambridge, CB2 1TN
United Kingdom

Stefan Krabel

University of Kassel - Economics ( email )

Nora-Platiel Str. 4
34109 Kassel
Germany

Patrick Llerena

BETA - University of Strasbourg ( email )

Strasbourg
France

Francesco Lissoni

CRIOS - Bocconi University

via Rontgen 1
Milan, MI 20122
Italy

University of Bordeaux - GREThA ( email )

avenue Léon Duguit
33608 Pessac cedex
France

Ammon Salter

University of Bath - School of Management ( email )

Claverton Down
Bath, BA2 7AY
United Kingdom

Maurizio Sobrero

University of Bologna - Department of Management ( email )

Via Capo di Lucca 34
40126 Bologna, Bologna 40126
Italy
+39 051 2098076 (Phone)

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