Universities and Firms: Intermediation in Technology Transfer Process

The aim of this paper is to identify the contribution of Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in the technology transfer process from academic research units to new entrepreneurial initiatives. The underlying idea is that TTOs can be considered as innovation intermediaries between universities and firms and, in this perspective, they can promote high-specificity assets to reduce uncertainty and to facilitate the match between faculty-inventors and firms. The paper proceeds as follows. In the first step we analyse the technology transfer process; the second step focuses on technology transfer intermediation. Finally, we introduce some proposition on how ICT facilitate TTOs in their role of innovation intermediaries between the university and the industry. Limits and further steps are considered.