Technology Transfer and Wealth Creation: The Role of Research Universities in the Asia-Pacific Region (10/25/01)

It is well recognized that technological innovation lies at the heart of a nation's ability to sustain a high rate of economic growth and productivity and to maintain competitiveness in the increasingly knowledge-based global economy (see e.g. OECD, 2001; Porter and van Opstal, 2001; and WEF, 2000). It is also being increasingly recognized, at least among the more advanced industrial economies, that research universities play a pivotal role in stimulating technological innovation by the business sector through technology transfer (Stern, Porter and Furnam, 2000; AUTM, 2000). For example, the level of patenting and technology licensing activities by universities has increased significantly in the U.S. since the mid-1980s, as a result of the Bayh-Dole Act. The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) estimated that North American universities contributed over US$40 billion in economic activity and supported more than 270,000 jobs in 1999. In spite of the growing importance of technology transfer from universities, there has been a dearth of information on the scope, pattern, trends and impacts of technology transfer activities by universities in the Asia-Pacific region outside North America. In addition to a lack of in-depth research on university technology transfer in many individual countries in the Asia-Pacific region, there has also been inadequate comparative analysis and information exchange about technology transfer among countries in the Asia-Pacific region. It is thus timely for APRU to initiate a comparative study on the technology transfer role of research universities in the Asia-Pacific region. We believe that APRU is uniquely well-placed to conduct such a study, given the strong representation of APRU's 34 members among the leading research universities in the Asia-Pacific region