An Investigation into Health-Related Technology Transfer and Commercialization Successes of New Inventions Through a University of Technology within South Africa

Abstract

Innovation is a necessity for global economic growth. Moving from an idea to a tangible product or service, is how the end user can benefit from the purpose of an innovation. Without technology transfer and commercializing new inventions, innovations are incomplete and can bring no benefits unless they reach the end user. Universities of Technology, (UOTs) like Traditional Universities (TUNIVs) that are publicly funded, are there for the benefit of the public. There are greater expectations for such institutions to address societal needs through research, development, and community engagement. Many of these higher education institutions (HEIs) across the world produce high volumes of research publications but low volumes of technology transfer that became commercialized inventions.

The research problem this study addresses is the potential lack of knowledge concerning effective technology transfer and commercialization strategies within the UOT under study. For example, although the institution in which the study is set, sought venture capitalists to invest into existing or new spin-off companies, it appears that few products have been brought to the market after more than six years of this strategy. I therefore embarked on a study to explore technology transfer and the commercialization of health-related new inventions within this UOT: a university of technology within South Africa (SA). The objective was to determine the critical success factors that played a role in the successful technology transfer and commercialization of such health-related innovations in instances where this occurred successfully. I also explored those inventions that failed.

The study, based within the interpretive paradigm, used a phenomenological approach to explore and describe the factors that contributed to the successful commercialization of nine health-related new inventions and four that has failed. A qualitative research approach was adopted to capture these exploratory and descriptive data that explained and provided insight into these factors. The setting was a university of technology that was established in 2005 after a merger between two Technikons. Sampling was purposive because I aimed at selecting a specific set of people that could best inform the research questions. Individual interviews were conducted with the inventors of the products and members of the Technology Transfer Office (TTO) team that was involved in the process from the start to the end. This was followed by an analysis of those documents that influenced technology transfer and commercialization of these inventions.

The study findings highlight key success factors and challenges, with the subthemes of products, partnerships, funding, support, marketing strategy, commercialization, entrepreneurial mindset and importance of guidelines.

Recommendations based on the findings of this study include the adoption of an effective and integrated marketing strategy with a team of experts, more involvement of management, an efficient procurement system, an incentive model for inventors, a checklist to support inventors, entrepreneurial capacity development of academics and more collaboration between academics and industry. Other recommendations include involving more student inventors, obtaining more external funding to support technology transfer and commercialization; consulting professionals in the industry; learning more about the trade and supporting more local manufacturers. To maximize technology transfer and commercialization, inventors should ensure their inventions respond to societal needs through research, development, and community engagement.

Date of Award	22 Jan 2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bath
Sponsors	Department of Higher Education and Training
Supervisor	Dan Davies (Supervisor) & Hilda Vember (Supervisor)