What affects corporate commercialization of public technology transfer in Korea?

Abstract

This study investigates the potential factors that might affect the successful corporate commercialization in public technology transfer (PTT), i.e. technology transfer from non-profit public research institutions and universities (PRI&U) to private companies. The empirical analyses are done with the help of unique data sets prepared by the Korean government agency. The important explanatory factors relate to PRI&U researcher's additional support after the technology transfer, the potential absorptive capacity of the company, and the company's previous R&D partnership experience with the same PRI&U. PRI&U's technology transfer performance and involvement of a technology transfer intermediary, however, do not enhance the propensity of transferred technologies' commercialization success. In conclusion, we draw some policy implications regarding PTT practices in Korea.