engleski

Knowledge Transfer Flows in the Life Sciences: A Conceptual Framework

This paper investigates knowledge transfer process from institutions involved in basic research to the business sector in the life sciences. We analyze “traditional” knowledge transfer activities, such as consulting and sponsored research, and “new-type” knowledge transfer activities, including patenting, licensing and the establishment of spin-off companies. Previous studies of the impact of knowledge transfer activities on knowledge flows in biomedicine and biotechnology research communities have produced equivocal findings. While some authors supported modest evidence of the restrictions in knowledge diffusion due to patenting and exclusive licensing of basic technologies, others pointed to significant limitations in the dissemination of research inputs and results, particularly in genetics. The empirical findings have in general been restricted to investigations of the relationship between patenting and quantity and quality of the researchers’ scientific output. Also, no consensus has been reached with respect to the causes of data and materials withholding in scientific communities. The key research question of this paper is: How does the involvement of researchers in different forms of knowledge transfer with the industry influence the particular forms of knowledge flows among researchers? Based on the literature review we conceptualized the main research question by establishing (1) the theoretical framework of knowledge transfer process from the perspective of an individual researcher and (2) the relationships between different forms of knowledge transfer and different types of knowledge diffusion among researchers. Our research model included two dependent variables, formal and informal collaboration, and predictor variables, that refer to involvement in “traditional” and “new-type” knowledge transfer activities as well as to scientists’ human and social capital and institutional characteristics. We controlled the model for demographic and professional characteristics of individual researchers. The model developed within this research should be the first seeking to identify the influences of different types of knowledge transfer on the extent of particular forms of collaboration between fellow researchers. As such, it represents an original contribution to the existing body of literature dealing with the complex problem of withholding of research inputs and outputs and limitations in formal collaboration among the members of the scientific community, which may derive from their involvement in knowledge transfer activities. This is relevant because of potentially detrimental effect of knowledge transfer activities on the progress of fundamental science. The empirical findings on knowledge flows in the academic community, the norms of sharing practices and causes of such behaviors have important implications for researchers, research organizations managers and policy makers.

traditional knowledge transfer, new-type knowledge transfer, formal collaboration, informal collaboration

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