Skip to main content
Log in

Conjoint analysis of R&D contract agreements for industry-funded university research

  • Published:
The Journal of Technology Transfer Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Since the late nineteenth century, universities have been regarded as useful sources of technological development to stimulate economic activity. Therefore, many governments have encouraged research collaborations between universities and industries. A consequence of such collaboration in Korea, however, is that university researchers have difficulty claiming ownership of their technological developments. Typical contracts used in academia in Korea have biased benefits for industries. Research and development contract agreements that decrease negotiation efforts between the sectors of academia and industry are essential to increase the efficiency of industry-academia collaborations. In order to determine an optimal contract design, we use conjoint analysis of four attributes, including policies of ownership and compensation, indemnity responsibility, patent application and maintenance fees, and publication restrictions. The resulting preferences take into account the perspectives of both industry and academia. We expect our approach to contribute to increasingly healthy collaborations between industry and academia, which in turn will benefit industrial competition as well as the Korean economy.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Blumenthal, D., Campbell, E. G., & Causino, N. (1996). Participation of life-science faculty in research relationships with industry. New England Journal of Medicine, 335, 1734–1739.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonaccorsi, A., & Piccaluga, A. (1994). A theoretical framework for the evaluation of university-industry relationships. R&D Management, 24, 229–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruno, G. S. F., & Orsenigo, L. (2003). Variables influencing industrial funding of academic research in Italy. An empirical analysis. International Journal of Technology Management, 26(2/3/4), 277–302.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chamanski, A., & Waagø, S. J. (2001). Organizational performance of technology-based firms—The role of technology and business strategies. Enterprise and Innovation Management Studies, 2(3), 205–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chesbrough, H. W. (2003a). The era of open innovation. MIT Sloan Management Review, 44(3), 35–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesbrough, H. W. (2003b). Open innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesbrough, H., Vanhaverbeke, W., & West, J. (2006). Open innovation: Researching a New Paradigm. Oxford University Press: Oxford.

  • Crespi, G., Geuna, A., Nomaler, O. & Verspagen, B. (2010). University IPRs and knowledge transfer. Is university ownership more efficient? Economics of Innovation and New Technology, 19 (forthcoming).

  • Czarnitzki, D., Glänzel, W., & Hussinger, K. (2009). Heterogeneity of patenting activity and its implications for scientific research. Research Policy, 38(1), 26–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dasgupta, P., & David, P. (1987). Information disclosure and the economics of science and technology. In G. Feiwel (Ed.), Arrow and the ascent of modern economic theory. New York: NYU Press. Chap 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fontana, R., Geuna, A., & Matt, M. (2006). Factors affecting university–industry R&D projects: The importance of searching, screening and signaling. Research Policy, 35, 309–323.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fusfeld, H. I. (1994). Industry’s future. Washington, DC: American Chemical Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, P. E., & Rao, V. (1971). Conjoint measurement for quantifying judgmental data. Journal of Marketing Research, 8(3), 355–363.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hertzfeld, H. R., Link, A. N., & Vonortas, N. S. (2007). Intellectual property protection mechanisms in research partnerships. Research Policy, 35, 825–838.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaffe, A. B. (1986) Technological opportunity and spillovers of R&D: Evidence from firrus patents, profits and market value. American Economic Review, 76, 984–1001.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jeon, H. J., Kim, M. S., & Sohn, S. Y. (2010) Conjoint and WTP analysis of future mobile phones for digital convergence. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 77(3), 457–465.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. H. (2007). A study on patent related provisions in a joint research agreement. The Journal of Korean Industrial Property Right, 23, 349–394.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kilger, C., & Bartenbach, K. (2002). New rules for German professors. Science, 298(8), 1173–1175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, G., Kim, A., & Sohn, S. Y. (2009a). Conjoint analysis for luxury brand outlet malls in Korea with consideration of customer lifetime value. Expert Systems with Applications, 36(1), 922–932.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, A., Son, S., & Sohn, S. Y. (2009b). Conjoint analysis of enhanced english medium instruction for college students. Expert Systems with Applications, 36, 10197–10203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Korean Intellectual Property Office. (2008, 2010). http://www.kipo.go.kr/.

  • Lee, Y. S. (2000). The sustainability of university-industry research collaboration: An empirical assessment. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 25, 111–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Libaers, D., Meyer, M., & Geuna, A. (2006). The role of university spinout companies in an emerging technology: The case of nanotechnology. Journal of Technology Transfer, 31, 443–450.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Merton, D., & Starer, N. W. (Eds.). (1973). The sociology of science: Theoretical and empirical investigation. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mok, M. S., Sohn, S. Y., & Ju, Y. H. (2010). Conjoint analysis for intellectual property education. World Patent Information, 32(2), 129–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mowery, D., Nelson, R., Sampat, B., & Ziedonis, A. (2001). The growth of patenting and licensing by U.S. universities: An assessment of the effect of the Bayh-Dole Act of 1980. Research Policy, 30, 99–119.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Academy of Sciences. (1995). Allocating federal funds for science and technology. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, N., & Nelson, R. (1994). American universities and technical advance in industry. Research Policy, 23, 323–348.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmiemann, M., & Durvy, J. N. (2003). New approaches to technology transfer from publicly funded research. Journal of Technology Transfer, 28(1), 9–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sohn, S. Y., & Ju, Y. H. (2010). Conjoint analysis for recruiting high quality students for college education. Expert Systems with Applications, 37(5), 3777–3783.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song, J., Jang, T., & Sohn, S. Y. (2009). Conjoint analysis for IPTV service. Expert Systems with Applications, 36(4), 7860–7864.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stern, A. (1989). Information transfer between an academic research center and its member firms. Journal of Technology Transfer, 14(3/4), 19–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zucker, L. G., Darby, M. R., & Brewer, M. B. (1998). Intellectual human capital and the birth of US biotechnology enterprises. American Economic Review, 87(3), 290–306.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy (MKE) and Korea Institute for Advancement in Technology (KIAT) through the Workforce Development Program in Strategic Technology.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to So Young Sohn.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sohn, S.Y., Lee, M. Conjoint analysis of R&D contract agreements for industry-funded university research. J Technol Transf 37, 532–549 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-011-9220-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-011-9220-0

Keywords

JEL Classification

Navigation