1.School of Management, Science and Research Branch of the Islamic Azad University P.O.Box: Corresponding Author

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1 International Research Journal of Applied and Basic Sciences 2013 Available online at ISSN X / Vol, 4 (10): Science Explorer Publications Analyzing the Effect of Management of Technology Transfer in Science and Technology Parks for Wealth Creation,Case Study: Science and Technology Park of Tehran University Arman Rahmani Zaker 1, Hamed Tajik *1, Fatemeh Bahramifaraz 1 1.School of Management, Science and Research Branch of the Islamic Azad University P.O.Box: Corresponding Author hamedtjk@yahoo.com ABSTRACT: Scientific and technological parks have played an important role in establishing the competitive, wealth creating, innovation and more value benefits for institutions and caused the economical, political and cultural developments in different countries such as America and Japan during the 60 recent years. According to the importance of this issue during the recent ten years, there have been done good endeavors in country since the year 2000 and we also see the formations and developments of scientific and technological parks in accordance with the fifth development program of the country at present time, but an important issue challenging the country s park nowadays is the concentration on the related parts between technological management and parks. Although this field is established in country during ten recent years and the entire park functions are cored by it, lack of attention to this topic (technological management) means lack of awareness to the instinct function of scientific and technological parks for reaching the pre-determined missions and goals. Therefore, if there is a lack in using this knowledge (technology management), we will see the loss in human potentialities as well as in financial and national resources. The results show that there has been not a suitable attention to the effective components of technological transferring, the components of an effective cooperation between companies and technological and scientific parks and the technical components of market in this project. In this way, the required suggestions have been offered to the people who are responsible for this project. Keywords: Technology; Technology Transfer; Technology Managemen;,Sience & Technology Parks(STPs); Technomart INTRODUCTION Science and technology parks as one of the social institutions and a ring in the chain of economic development have been established based on science and technology aiming at increasing technologic innovation, economic development and employment of specialists. Many policy-makers consider science and technology parks as a part of a thoughtful and coordinated strategy for national or regional development. These parks are known on the other hand as a means of attracting companies based on advanced technology at international levels. They are also a good place for attracting specialists and scientists and developing entrepreneurs activities (Audretsch and Feldman, 1995). The main objective of this study was to evaluate efficacy of technology transfer management in science and technology parks, with roots in the lack of technology transfer management, absence of proper cooperation between the existing parks and companies and also lack of application from technomarkets. Then, the mechanisms that could help solve these problems were studied. In order to achieve the main aim of the study, three subsidiary objectives were considered: identifying methodology and official and unofficial guidelines for technology transfer between the industry and university, studying weaknesses and strengths in the field of technology transfer in science and technology parks and offering appropriate solutions for proper cooperation between companies and parks in the field of technology transfer in science and technology parks. In the present study, first, the related

2 literature was studied; then, the methodology was investigated and finally the findings and conclusions were presented (Arvanitis, S. and Hollenstein, 2001). Studying the Research Literature and Extracting the Theoretical Framework The term technology is a combination of the Greek root tekhne meaning art and skill and logia meaning theoretical science, studying and investigation 1. Like other words ending in logy, this word can be called investigating techniques or studying art and skill (D.S. Siegel, et al., 2004). Technology transfer is a process in which technology is transferred from one geographical coordinate to another. Some transfers take place from a place or region inside the country to another place or internationally from a country to another, which is defined as horizontal transfer. Vertical transfer in contrast refers to a process in which new and scientific knowledge and techniques are used in technology, then applied in process and product and thus a new technology is born. In fact, if technology transfer leads to realizing the pre-determined objectives of an organization, it would be effective (Elmuti, et al., 2005). Technology management means managing and guiding technology at major social or minor agent levels. Technology management is an interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary activity that requires various specialties like engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, industrial methods and business theory all at the same time (Bozeman, Barry., 2000). The main aim of a science and technology park is to increase wealth in society through encouraging and promoting culture of innovation and increasing power of competition among institutions and companies that rely on science and knowledge in the environment of parks (Gans, et al., 2003). Technomarket means technology market, i.e. a place for technology interchanges. Also, in technology markets, technomarkets have a mediating role for transferring technology information to suppliers, applicants, entrepreneurs and investors. Moreover, technomarkets provide consultation in the field of steps for transferring technology (Arvanitis, S. and Hollenstein, 2001). The variables considered in this study include: Receivers: This variable means an institution or organization that receives the entity of transfer including companies, institutions, establishments and unofficial groups and consumers. Transferors: This variable refers to institutions or organizations that try to transfer technology. To succeed in the technology transfer process, the transferor should have special characteristics, which vary in different transferors such as different universities, governmental laboratories or private companies. Transfer environment: This variable refers to market or non-market factors that create the need for transferring the entity. Governmental principles and regulations play an important role in efficacy of technology transfer. Transfer methods: This variable means official or unofficial means, according to which transfer takes place. Transfer entity: This variable refers to the essence of what is transferred. The transfer entity can be scientific, technologic and physical knowledge, technological design, process and techniques or skills (Gibson, D. V. and Smilor, R. W., 1991). Human ware: This variable means the technology hidden in people including the abilities required for taking production operations like expertise, skill, agility, innovation, initiation, ingenuity, etc. Organization ware: It refers to the technology hidden in organizations which includes frameworks and structures needed for production activities. Information ware: This variable means the technology hidden in documents which includes all the information and numbers required for production activities. Techno ware: This variable refers to the means in which technology is placed and includes all physical facilities needed for doing transformation (or production) operations (Bozeman, Barry., 2000). Physical market: It refers to the place in which owners and resources of technology along with skillful human forces make deals in the form of technology fair, which may be permanent or sectional. Virtual market: This variable means an integrated information network that is formed on the Internet. Support system: It includes a network of colleagues who provide technology services and also the headquarters which coordinate and standardize services provided by colleagues' network (Al-Mabrouk, K. and Soar, J., 2009). The present study was done aiming at effective technology management of Science and Technology Park, University of Tehran, in order to generate wealth and offer appropriate solutions for similar projects in the field of technology transfer. In this regard, three research hypotheses were formulated. 1 The American Heritage Dictionary, New York,

3 To reach the above-mentioned goal, first, the research literature related to science and technology parks existing in the world and also that of technology management and transfer was reviewed to identify an appropriate model for effective management of technology transfer in these centers. Later on, three variables of proper cooperation of companies and parks, effective technology transfer and technomarket were studied along with their indexes. To gather data for testing the research hypotheses, a questionnaire containing 22 questions was designed. The number of investigated population was 65 and Cochran formula was used to estimate the sample size of 39 people. Given these data and probability of not returning some questionnaires, 45 questionnaires were distributed among the sample members, from which 40 usable questionnaires were obtained. The analyses took place based on the data extracted from these 40 questionnaires. To analyze the gathered data, after extracting descriptive indexes for testing the hypotheses, t-student test was used in the inferential part. Methodology One of the conventional methods in qualitative studies is case study which was considered in this research and the data needed for the research led to choosing the studied organization. The number of authorities in the field of technology transfer in Science and Technology Park, University of Tehran, included managers of science-based companies of the park in the field of technology transfer. 35 people were selected from the personnel of Science and Technology Park, who were active in the field of technology transfer, and the specialists active in this part. They were directly selected out of the people that were active in the field of technology transfer in Science and Technology Park. The face-to-face interview was run. To make the interview's atmosphere more flexible and to have more freedom in asking the desired questions, a free interview type was used to thus get the best possible responses. The studied organization was selected based on the research needs. The idea of establishing Science and Technology Park, University of Tehran, was proposed by the manager of Technical Campus in 2002 and its first measures were taken right after. The main aim of establishing Science and Technology Park, University of Tehran, was to help develop science-based business and consequently increase Iranian scientific-economic capacity relying on scientific abilities of University of Tehran. Realizing this objective helped the following goals as well: Increasing gross domestic product through creating new products and markets Developing employment, especially for country's intellectual and educated forces Ameliorating the instance of science-related activities, attracting domestic elites and preventing the brain-drain Commercializing the results of academic research Linking industry to university and, as a result, facilitating and decreasing the time required for using results of studies, especially for newly established companies and industries Increasing riskability rate and the competition power of domestic technology companies and also helping them to appear at international levels The research algorithm is given in Figure 1. Research Findings First, the studied organization was selected based on the research needs as Science and Technology Park, University of Tehran, as mentioned previously. While demographically studying the statistical sample, totally 65 people who were present in the research either directly or indirectly were identified, from which 40 people filled out the research questionnaire. Then, their specifications in terms of education, job experience and expertise were presented. Most questionnaire respondents had Bachelor's degree. Job experience was the second demographic variable studied in the sample and most of the respondents had job experience of 3 to 6 years. Expertise was the third demographic variable in the studied sample and showed that most people were managers in the field of science-based companies and marketing. Descriptive statistics are the best method for studying and comparing means of every variable. In terms of the list of proper cooperation components of companies and science and technology parks, the highest mean was related to organizational frameworks and structures (organization ware) and the lowest one was that of using experts (human ware) and the numbers and information available in the technology park (information ware). Considering the list of effective technology transfer components, it can be said that the highest mean was that of paying attention to the transferor stance of technology transfer and the lowest one was about holding educational programs for employees. 3429

4 Considering the list of technomarket components, the highest mean was about seminars and speeches on technology transfer. Moreover, the lowest one was related to processing and analyzing the information. Total mean and standard deviation for the three variables of Science and Technology Park, effective technology transfer and technomarket are summarized in Table 1. Library Studies Initial interviews Specify active companies in the study area Developing the questionnaire and Interview Distributing questionnaires in smallscale Does the questionnaire Questionnaire correction Yes No distribute and collect the final questionnaire The information purification and analysis Presentation a model and conclusion proposal for further studies Figure 1. executive model for study 3430

5 Row Table 1. Total mean and standard deviation of the research variables Variable Average Standard Deviation favorable cooperation between companies and Science and Technology Park Effective Technology Transfer Technomarket According to Table 1, it can be concluded that mean of technomarket and proper cooperation of companies and Science and Technology Park in the studied sample was 36.1, which demonstrated respondents' belief that components of technomarket and proper cooperation of companies and Science and Technology Park was less considered. For the variables of effective technology transfer with mean of 37.95, the same could be concluded from the means. In other words, in the investigated project, effective technology transfer components were evaluated at low level by the respondents. Here, inferential statistics and research hypotheses are studied using t-student test. As was pointed out, this test can be used for examining the hypotheses that take the sample mean as equal or less than a special number and is also applied for testing the hypotheses related to comparing the means of two samples. Testing the First Hypothesis: it was done as follows: H0 : µ 50 H1 : µ > 50 H0: H1: Efficacy of technology transfer process between the industry and university has not been considered in Science and Technology Park. Efficacy of technology transfer process between the industry and university has been considered in Science and Technology Park. Explanation of the First Hypothesis: Considering the following table, the lower level calculated for the mean was negative and thus the upper limit was negative; so, it can be said that the components of effective technology transfer were not considered at the desired mean level (50) in the present project. In other words, the first hypothesis of this study was not confirmed at confidence level of 0.95 in this sample. Table 2. Analyzing mean of the first hypothesis One-Sample Statistics N Mean Std. Deviation Std. Error Mean ETT Table 3. One-Sample Test Test Value = 50 95% Confidence Interval of the Difference t df Sig. (2-tailed) Mean Difference Lower Upper ETT Testing the Second Hypothesis: it was done as follows: H0 : µ 50 H1 : µ > 50 H0: H1: Technomarket as the main reliance of technology transfer strategy does not exist. Technomarket as the main reliance of technology transfer strategy exists. Explanation of the Second Hypothesis: Since the lower limit calculated for the mean was negative and the upper limit was also negative 12.88, it can be said that technomarket in the studied project was not considered at the mean level (50). In other words, the second hypothesis of this project was not confirmed at 0.95 confidence level. 3431

6 Testing the Third Hypothesis: it was done as follows: H0 : µ 50 H1 : µ > 50 H0: H1: Not using important wares for proper cooperation between the park and companies in the field of transfer Using important wares for proper cooperation between the park and companies in the field of transfer Explanation: Since the lower and upper limits calculated for the mean were negative, it may be mentioned that using important wares for proper cooperation between the park and companies in the field of transfer in this project was less than the required mean (50). Correlation Test Here, using Spearman correlation test, the relationship between indexes of each variable (proper cooperation of companies and the park, effective technology transfer and technomarket) with the same variable and finally the relationship between three main variables was studied and the results were expressed. Relationship of the Indexes of Technomarket Component The correlation between technology transfer seminar and speech (FM1) and permanent and sectional technology fairs and negotiations (FM2), which was calculated as , showed incomplete and inverse correlation. In fact, given high costs of technology transfer seminars and speeches and also permanent and sectional fairs and negotiations, Science and Technology Park, University of Tehran, was obliged to hold only one of them or at least hold them in a small time interval. Also, the correlation between processing and analyzing information (VM2) and technology consultation support center (SM1) was which demonstrated that the correlation was incomplete and direct and indicated that a virtual space for information analysis needed some technological support and consultation by a center as a technomarket. Relationship of Indexes of Effective Technology Transfer Components The correlation between successful experiences of previous transfer (R1) and research and development (R2) which obtained showed the correlation was incomplete and inverse; i.e. the more successful the transfer projects in previous experiences, the less research and development in the project would occur and the existing experience would suffice. Moreover, in terms of the correlation between research and development (R2) and political limitations (T2) which was as incomplete and direct correlation, it was concluded that, when more political limitations were in place, more research and development activities were necessary considering the requirements. Relationship of Indexes of Proper Cooperation of Companies and Science and Technology Park Components The correlation between human ware (H) and information ware (I) was meaning incomplete and inverse correlation. In fact, using specialists would make previous numbers less reliable and, once less specialists were recruited, previous numbers and figures gained more importance. The correlation between human ware (H) and techno ware (T) was 0.107, which showed dependence of specialists and their proper equipment and tools. General Relationship between Components of Effective Technology Transfer, Technomarket and Proper Cooperation of Companies and the Park In this section, after separately studying the correlation of indexes of every component, the correlation of the three main components with each other is investigated. Recommendations Considering that science and technology parks are also active in the field of training and research, they need interaction with all scientific institutions. So, technology management of those institutions in the case of having the related office needs to pay the utmost attention to such cooperation. Considering the second hypothesis, another important point in science and technology parks is the role of technomarket or technology transfer strategy. One of the most important challenges in this field is lack of attention to using specialists in technology management and managers' unfamiliarity with this topic, absence of a virtual database for presenting the relevant services at any time and place, no supporting unit for analyzing and presenting the best and fastest analyses and solutions for new technologies to enter the country or regions and needing domestic technologies to be exported and making wealth. Considering the third hypothesis, human ware, organization ware, information ware and techno ware of a set called science and technology parks or research and science complex cannot be defined, launched, exploited 3432

7 or developed without considering the issue of technology management and the interrelated components. Thus, considering the technology management need for a wide range of abilities in operational environments, from research and development to marketing fiscal issues and any other traditional management activity, and also the companies located in science and technology parks, which have been founded in terms of research and development, all the companied located in these parks should pay more attention to this very important point in order to achieve their goals. Table 4. Correlation between components of effective technology transfer, technomarket and proper cooperation of companies and the park Correlations Technomart Coporation ETT Technomart Coporation ETT Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Pearson Correlation Sig. (2-tailed) N Here, it is clear that the correlation between components of effective technology transfer, technomarket and proper cooperation of companies and the park which was and 0.044, respectively, was incomplete and direct. Also, the correlation between components of technomarket and proper cooperation of companies and the park was , which indicated an incomplete and inverse relationship, showing that, with the increased cooperation between the existing companies and Science and Technology Park, the need for using technomarket unit was marginalized and vice versa. REFERENCES Al-Mabrouk K, Soar J An analysis of the major issues for successful information technology transfer in Arab countries. Ent erprise Information Management, 22 (5), Arvanitis S, Hollenstein "The determinants of the adoption of advanced manufacturing technology: An empirical investigation based on firm-level data for Swiss Manufacturing", Economics of Innovation and New Technologies. Audretsch DB, Feldman MP "Innovative Clusters and the Industry Life Cycle", CEPR Awny MM Transfer and implementation processes in developing countries. International Journal of Technology Management, 32, Bozeman B Technology transfer and public policy: a review of research and theory. Research Policy, 29, Elmuti D, Abebe M, Nicolosi M An overview of strategic alliances between universities and corporations, The journal of Workplace Learning, 17,, pp: Gans Joshua S, Stern S The product market and the market for ideas : commercialization strategies for technology entrepreneurs, Research Policy, 32,, pp: Gibson DV, Smilor RW Key variables in technology transfer: A field-study based empirical analysis. Engineering and Technology Management, 8, Siegel DS, Waldman DA, Atwater LE, Link AN Toward a model of the effective transfer of scientific knowledge from academicians to practitioners: qualitative evidence from the commercialization of university technologies, J. Eng. Technol. Manage, 21,, pp: