University-industry technology transfer: the commercialization of university’s patents

The study aims at investigating the main challenges in University-Industry Technology Transfer (UITT) process, as well as the relevant factors for the successful licensing of university inventions. We interviewed academic inventors of several patents in force, owned by Portuguese public universities. We evaluated the process of patent development considering three phases: research, protection and commercialisation. We observed that most of the patents resulted from master/doctoral research and were developed by small, departmental or interdepartmental work teams without industry collaboration. The main motivations were related to curricular valorisation (prestige/visibility/reputation), potential of commercialisation, and/or university incentives. Inflexibility in university procedures and in negotiating with industry; lack of R&D funding to further develop the technology suitable for marketing; and low market potential of the patent were the most cited barriers. The collaboration with industry seems beneficial in the three phases of the UITT process, and its involvement contributed to diminish several of the barriers identified in the UITT process.