Knowledge creation and technology transfer in nanotechnology at research universities

Universities play an important role in linking science and innovation, especially in emerging areas such as nanotechnology where technologies are heavily dependent on science. This study examines the linkages between the academic knowledge creation and technology transfer process in nanotechnology, with emphasis on the environmental, organizational and individual contexts. The conceptual framework uses theories of power to trace the ascendancy of the tech transfer function from a peripheral to an increasingly core activity. The main research issues addressed include the stratification of nanotech funding, publications, and patents; the impact of interdisciplinarity on knowledge creation and transfer; effects of university policy, structure and strategies on knowledge creation and transfer; effects of organizational culture; and faculty attitudes, life-cycle associated behaviors and role balance in managing their public science and entrepreneurial roles. The methods used include data analysis of key metrics and case studies at two research universities.;Funding, patents and publications in nanotechnology are concentrated at a few universities indicating that regional innovation in nanotechnology could be skewed. In the eleven-year period from 1994-2004, each of these measures has shown an impressive increase. Interdisciplinarity affects the process and structuring of the entire academic value chain in nanotechnology, from the training of students to the evaluation of technology at the tech transfer office. The organizational contexts of knowledge creation create path-dependent conditions for transfer of technologies. Faculty across both institutions belonged to one of two groups of thought; those who believe firmly that tech transfer and research commercialization are part of their academic role, and others who believe that research commercialization is a peripheral role and takes away from their main focus. Faculty life cycle appears to play a key role in the decision to commercialize. Academic scientists who commercialize their research successfully manage both the conflicting role demands of public and commercial science. This study models two paths to the marketplace for nanoscale academic technologies. The first path is a clear case of technologies being 'pulled' into the marketplace and the second path relates to technology being 'pushed' into the marketplace. The two paths show considerable variation in their focus and the level of involvement at the environmental, organizational and individual level.;The peripheral task of tech transfer at universities is changing due to environmental pressures, and the shifting dynamics of power related with commercialization activities. Policy implications include the need for fostering interdisciplinarity in the academy and actively promoting an organizational culture that values such activity. Through its focus on academic knowledge creation and transfer in nanotechnology, this study advances the discourse on the role of universities in the knowledge economy.