Does Localizing University Tech Transfer Come at a Price?
It’s a question that many policymakers and researchers across the world are attempting to answer. A recent paper by Sharon Belenzon and Mark Schankerman, Harnessing Success: Determinants of University Technology Licensing Performance, adds to the growing body of knowledge on the topic, exploring how the differences between universities may impact the income generated by licensing technology. Universities with a strong commitment to local development objectives compared to other objectives, such as revenue generation, for example, produced on average 30 percent less income per license, the authors found. Additionally, on average, 30 to 40 percent more income per license was generated for universities that provided performance incentives for their efforts. Universities with strong local development commitments, however, are more likely to license to local firms. Belenzon and Schankerman conclude, “Stronger government constraints are ‘costly’ in terms of foregone license income and start-
