Drivers of knowledge transfer between universities and industry R&D partners in South Africa

Abstract

South Africa as a technology colony is challenged to attain industrial, technological and commercial sustainability whilst protecting its intellectual property. Universities and industry organizations are two main behavioral components of the South African National System of Innovation. The mechanisms of how knowledge flows between universities and industry organizations are complex and multifarious. Proper management of knowledge transfer between universities and industry is crucial to alleviate the technology colony dependency and to move toward a stable and reliable knowledge exchange system. This dissertation presents the findings of the RESEARCH MARKETING&TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION SURVEY conducted in South Africa. Part IV of the survey has been designed to examine the mechanisms of knowledge transfer between industrial organizations and universities on research and development (R&D) collaborations. A study on the drivers of knowledge transfer in particular is presented in this dissertation.