Developing evaluation models for University-Industry Technological Links

Abstract

University-industry links feature signiRcantly in a series of development plans and policy documents over the past decade, including Knowledge-based Economy Master Plan and Second National Science and Technology Policy and Plan of Action. A number of policy measures, primarily in the form of grant schemes and programmes, has been introduced for this purpose. Closer relationships between universities and industry, especially in research and technological activities, had been encouraged by the government in the belief that they can enhance the nation's competitiveness by promoting innovative activities in industry and entrepreneurial activities in universities; and by improving the nation's indigenous technological capability and capacity. The increasing body of literature on this subject is illustrated in an annotated bibliography by Salisbury (1993), Packer (1994), Stewart (1999) and more recently by Mora-Valentin (2002). Researchers investigate the issue either at macro/national level (for example, Polt et al., 2001a, 2001b; OECD, 2002) or organisational level (Geisler and Rubenstein, 1989; Bonaccorsi and Piccaluga, 1994, Siegel et al., 2004); whilst some focus on certain types of linkages or industrial/technological sectors (Faulkner and Senker, 1994; Loebinger, 2003).