Thesis (M. Soc. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984.

published_or_final_version / Urban Studies / Master / Master of Social Sciences

As developing countries have grown aware of the effects of pollution and resource depletion, industrialized countries that produce environmental goods and services have secured new markets where to export them. In this manner, increased concerns over environmental degradation have led to the growth of the green technology sector which is currently in full expansion. The purpose of the thesis is, therefore, to uncover the dynamics of such exchanges by exploring the interactions of Quebec environmental firms in the People's Republic of China (PRC). / Results indicate that the PRC presents accommodative structures that are compatible with those found in Quebec, but an inappropriate level of protection of intellectual property rights (IPRs). This scenario gives the PRC a certain advantage since most local firms are able to reproduce foreign technologies without being constrained by issues of intellectual property. Combining theoretical and practical approaches, the thesis uncovers that accommodative conditions do not supersede the question of IPRs when attempting to ensure transfers. Even though the current state of these factors affects the nature of the agreements, the environmental aspect of these technologies seems to facilitate the transactions.

My dissertation research focuses commercializing university related technology. My first essay investigates whether patents assigned to U.S. universities largely represent the totality of faculty inventions patented. In contrast to prior work that identified faculty patents by searching for patents assigned to the university, I find in a sample of patents with US faculty as inventors, 26% are assigned solely to firms rather than universities. This initially seems to conflict with US university employment policies and Bayh-Dole. I relate assignment to patent characteristics, university policy, inventor field and academic entrepreneurship. Patents assigned to firms (whether established or start-ups with inventor as principal) are less basic than those assigned to universities suggesting these patents result from faculty consulting. The second essay examines the growing phenomena of U.S. academic entrepreneurship. Building on prior work demonstrating the embryonic state of science and engineering research that is licensed through the university (Jensen & Thursby 2001), I extend this framework to university inventions commercialized by new technology-based firms (NTBFs). I posit that the presence of faculty inventor founders will be beneficial to the NTBF. This is tested with a uniquely constructed dataset representing a variety of university and industry settings. Results indicate firms with faculty founders have a higher likelihood to experience an IPO or become acquired than other similar new firms. Second, faculty members with highly cited publications have incrementally more impact on the likelihood of the firm having an IPO. Thus I discern that while faculty founders matter, 'star' scientists matter more. The third essay identifies significant variables in the observed career level patent assignment patterns of academic serial inventors. Existing life cycle models test the idea that consulting occurs later in the career span of academic scientists. I find that indeed the proxy for consulting (firm assignment of patents) is more likely the later the patent application is from the year of Phd for the faculty inventors. I found strong evidence that faculty performing industry consulting are more likely to continue consulting in subsequent work. However the use of rolling lag variables based on transition probability matrices increased the variance explained in the regression model by a factor of three indicating factors other than life cycle may be significant.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2008. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 87-92).

Thesis (M.Soc.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 1984. / Also available in print.

Thesis (D.P.A.)--University of Southern California, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (v.2, leaves 639-646).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Georgia, 1989. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 227-264).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Hawaii, 1992. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 205-212).

The emergence on knowledge-based and innovation-based economy has led to numerous universities restructuring themselves in response to this new economic growth shift. Technology transfer is the process of converting scientific findings into useful products or services for society.The purpose of the study was to identify they key determinants that drives successful commercialisation of university innovations by technology transfer offices.The research took a qualitative methodology wherein open ended questions in the form of narrative inquiry were posed to experts in the field of university technology transfer to explore and understand the critical determinants that drives successful commercialisation of university innovations. From the twelve themes that emerged as determinants for diving successful commercialisation of innovation, buy-in by top management of the university, awareness about technology transfer office, enabling environment and financial stability were considered as highly critical for commercialisation of university innovations by technology transfer offices.A technology transfer office can create many benefits for the university, industry, and the surrounding community, but it requires carefully planned and consistent longterm financial and administrative support. And above all, it requires technology transfer officers that are able and willing to take risks and university top management that support them. / Dissertation (MBA)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) / unrestricted