The Rise of Organized Transfer: Institutional Learning of Technology Transfer in American Research Universities

University-industry technology transfer is an important economic activity that leads to significant technological innovation. American research universities annually produce thousands of patents and licenses, hundreds of startups, and multi-billion dollar business activities. Many research universities worldwide follow the suit and struggle to advance their technology transfer programs. Given its significance, understanding the historical and institutional foundations of the original American experience of technology transfer is critical. This book shows how American universities have organized their technology transfer programs and explores why their technology transfer activities differ among the universities. The book will appeal to students in organization studies and economic sociology as well as practitioners in the areas of higher education and innovation who aspire to understand macro dynamics of technology transfer.

Young Choon Kim, Ph.D.: Studied Sociology and Organization Theory at Stanford University. Assistant Professor at National University of Singapore.