Interviews with more than 40 employees of 25 British university spinoff firms, vehicles for moving research into the marketplace, identified differences among sectors (information technology, scientific instruments, and new materials), including diversity in the extent of university control. Overall, these companies do not resolve problems with…

A survey of 127 universities found increased numbers licensing patented technologies to businesses. Elements aiding this increase included policies encouraging faculty entrepreneurship and a business support system that helps identify industry needs and ways to be responsive. (SK)

Case studies of 10 publicly funded research laboratories in Italy show that integration of scientific research into the social system has only partially been achieved because of barriers in the host institutions and that there is continuing conflict between the priorities of quality and research transferability. (SK)

Managing R&D and the innovation process is closely linked with technology transfer and the commercialization of research results. This is especially so in the context of publicly-funded R&D laboratory systems in developing countries, such as India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). Inefficiencies in the transfer…

Describes a web-based technology bank that provides examples of university research of interest to businesses. Addresses the use of electronic communications for dissemination, highlighting potential problems: considerable database maintenance, the volume of information and number of links, and appropriateness of links. (SK)

Interviews with 28 academic scientists involved with industrial organizations found strong concern for public safety and condemnation of concealed conflicts of interest. They showed much less concern about restriction of information flow and regarded commercial exploitation of research to be legitimate. (SK)

Includes "Evolution of Academic-Industry Technology Transfer in the USA" (Berneman, Denis); "University-Industry-Government Partnerships for Innovation: The US Technology Reinvest Project--A Case History" (Leventman); and "The Science-Trained Professional: A New Breed for the New Century" (Tobias, Birrer). (SK)

A survey of 78 small/medium-sized enterprises in Istanbul showed the majority were founded by their present owners (most are college graduates); 45% are not aware of national research and development; most lacked research capital; technological innovations are driven by consumer demand; and government and large enterprises are not supporting…