Exploring connectivity : invention, innovation and knowledge transfer in the university-industry interface

Universities are expected to create knowledge and b e involved in knowledge transfer with society. This is accomplished through the universit ie ’ three missions; 1) teaching, 2) research and 3) innovation and social engagement. T he focus of this thesis is knowledge transfer for the purpose of innovation in the unive rsity-industry interface. Policy makers have strong faith in innovation and e mphasise the importance of innovation and knowledge transfer in the intersection between universities and industry for future economic growth and employment. University scholars have, in the multi-disciplinary field of innovation studies, spent considerable effort to shed light on knowledge transfer processes and to investigate the myriad of mechanis ms through which knowledge is exchanged. For instance, efforts have been made to m asure knowledge transfer itself or the outcomes of knowledge transfer. A better understand ing of knowledge transfer processes, outcomes and impact could provide a foundation for m e efficient and tailored innovation support infrastructures, regulations and management of university-industry interaction. However, many prior studies are built on quantitati ve and unidimensional methods, often based on statistics that either overor under esti mates innovation and knowledge transfer. This thesis argues that there is a need to widen th perspective to get a better understanding of the knowledge transfer activities taking place i n the university-industry interface. Also, there is a need of a more comprehensive innovation s atistics and metrics in the university innovation interface. This thesis draws on, and aim s at contributing to the research areas of university-industry relations, knowledge transfer a nd social network theory. Thus, this thesis addresses the question of h w the mapping of ‘hidden’ connections could provi de insights into the management of knowledge transfer in the university-industry interface. The four included papers address this overarching q uestion in different ways with different methodological approaches. Based on the problem of lacking statistics on university patenting, Paper I investigates how inventive productivity can be mea sured in the academic setting. Paper I also introduces the Karolinska Institutet Intellec tual Property (KIIP) project which included a description of the construction of the KIIP database. The KIIP database contains comprehensive statistics on patented inven tions derived from Karolinska Institutet between 1995 and 2010. Paper II, is a longitudinal study of knowledge transfer path s from the university to third parties. It suggests the AB C-framework of patent ownership transfer modes. Using social network analysis, Paper III investigates the board network structure, composition and evolution of 65 university spin off s. Findings show that investors hold central network positions in the network over time and are therefore in a position to both facilitate and hinder knowledge transfer. Results a lso show that the board network has a stabile ‘small word’ feature over time indicating d ense clustering and short transfer distances across the network. Paper IV takes an individual level perspective and addresse s the question of how individuals search for knowledg to solve problems in product development processes. Based on grounded theory met hodology, an emergent theoretical framework of individual level knowledge search proc esses is suggested that emphasises the importance of social networks. In conclusion, the findings of this thesis suggest the there is a need to apply a more holistic and multi-level methodological and theoretical pers ctives to gain better understanding of knowledge transfer in the university-industry inter face. This includes building comprehensive innovation statistics, applying analy sis methods, such as social network analysis on micro-, mesoand macro level, developi ng qualitative impact oriented innovation measures, and using pedagogical strength of social network visualisations. By bringing such ‘hidden’ connections to the surface a more tailored management of knowledge transfer and innovation support systems c ould be developed. LIST OF SCIENTIFIC PAPERS I. Dahlborg*, C. , Lewensohn* , D. and Sundberg, C.J., 2013, Investigating inventive productivity at Sweden’s largest medical university, International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisatio n 12((1/2/3)), 102 – 120. II. Dahlborg, C. , Lewensohn, D. , Danell, R. and Sundberg, C.J., 201 6, To invent and let others innovate: a framework of acad emic patent transfer modes, The Journal of Technology Transfer, 1-26. III. Dahlborg, C. , Lewensohn, D. , Sundberg, C.J., The anatomy of a university spin-off network – a longitudinal study of company board interlocks and affiliations (Manuscript) IV. Dahlborg, C. , Vindefjärd Nilsson, A. , Sundberg, C.J., Searching inside and outside – how individuals find knowledge through formal and i nformal social networks (Manuscript) Other relevant publications: Lewensohn, D. , Dahlborg, C. , Kowalski, J. and Lundin, P., 2015, Applying patent survival analysis in the academic context, R esearch Evaluation 24 (2): 197-212. *Equal contributions