Academic Researchers' Voluntary Incentives in Technology Transfer: An ethnographic case study of genome science
Authors: onoda Takashi , Ito Yasunobu 
Published: June 2024

The predominant contributors to the advancement of medical devices have traditionally resided within the industrial sector. Nevertheless, owing to recent progress in open innovation and other contributing factors, academia has experienced a notable surge in research and development activities. In 2015, the Japanese government inaugurated the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED), aspiring to emulate the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States, with the objective of fostering the creation of medical devices originating from academic endeavors.　In the realm of medical devices utilized for diagnostic, therapeutic, preventative, or monitoring purposes, there is a growing focus not only on therapeutic and diagnostic devices but also on the burgeoning significance of simple genetic diagnosis as a testing modality. The application of genetic diagnosis has extended beyond rare diseases to encompass the treatment of common ailments such as cancer, manifesting a notable expansion in recent years. Projections indicate that by 2025, the global market is poised to reach $13.2 billion, a threefold increase from the 2017 level, with further growth anticipated in tandem with heightened research and development undertakings.　Despite these promising prospects, the facilitation of medical device development within academia encounters formidable challenges. Issues such as funding constraints, legal constraints, and limited collaboration with industry are universally acknowledged hurdles. Of particular concern is the sustainable promotion of these activities by researchers within academic institutions. Historically, addressing societal implementation concerns related to technology transfer and commercialization has fallen under the purview of liaison personnel, who act as intermediaries between industry and academia.　However, existing support structures primarily address external aspects, presenting challenges in offering comprehensive solutions. Additionally, the imperative of devising mechanisms to ensure incentives for academic researchers is a critical aspect of sustainable activities, constituting a prominent challenge. Consequently, this study places emphasis on the cognitive culture or background—the epistemic culture inherent in the consciousness of actors engaged in research and development. Employing a multi-site ethnographic survey encompassing research institutions and facilities affiliated with the participating actors, alongside in-depth interviews, the study endeavors to shed light on the cultural aspects of knowledge intrinsic to the awareness of participating actors and their backgrounds.　A protracted ethnographic and interview survey will be conducted among researchers involved in the "Cancer Biomarker Discovery Project" within academic research organizations. The aim is to elucidate the cultural dimensions of knowledge inherent in the consciousness of participating actors and to identify the challenges associated with medical device development within academia. Through survey analysis, this research will address the issue of securing voluntary incentives for researchers, a recognized concern in the context of medical device development within academia. The anticipated outcome is the elucidation of guidelines and promotional strategies for ensuring voluntary incentives, thereby fostering the revitalization of medical device development within academic settings.