Assessing changes in university knowledge transfer capability to support innovation: A knowledge intensive business service perspective

Abstract

As universities increasingly engage with industry, the need for the management of knowledge transfer to draw upon appropriate measurement of activities is growing. There is little understanding of the relationship between strategy, infrastructure and capacity development, and alternative knowledge transfer activities. Much of the measurement of university knowledge transfer activity, emphasises basic 'output' assessment (e.g. number of patents, licenses, engagements, financial value etc.). This limitation is exacerbated when one seeks to support innovation above and beyond high technology-, science-and research-led initiatives, since innovation processes in service innovation spheres are more complex and diverse. There are many ways in which knowledge transfer can be categorised. Whilst these frameworks provide some insights into activities, they are essentially (supplyled) 'product' categories and do not reveal the ways in knowledge transfer activities meet the demands of users. Viewing knowledge transfer activities as knowledge intensive business services (KIBS), is one way to more fully understand the ways in which universities are supporting innovation in its broader sense. Understanding the competence of a university in terms of its service capability allows a university to develop strategies, tactics and initiatives to develop infrastructure and capacity. The current study examines developments in a case study university over a four year period in a structured assessment of knowledge intensive business services for regional innovation. A number of statistically significant changes in capability are identified which align to the strategic endeavour. The study demonstrates value in assessing and managing KT activities for innovation in KIBS terms. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2011.