The Technology Licensing Office as Factor of Success for Spin-off: Case Study of a Research Lab Startup of Korea

Abstract

This is a case study to analyze the role of technology licensing or transfer office (TLO) as factors of success for the spin-off from government research lab. The case company is a research lab startup, which is a joint venture through technology investment by a government research lab or university in the designated R&D parks and cash investment by the partner company. The case company listed on the stock market in 2015 reaching a market capitalization of US$ 1.2 billion. We confirm the success factors of startups pointed out in many studies: original technology, good understanding of core technology and production technology, technological competitiveness in the market. However, there is an important factor not well discussed in the previous studies, the role of TLO. TLO guided the company ownership, management, technology, and solved problems that pause business itself. The case became the sample of research lab startup and technology investment in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]