Evaluation of technology transfer performance for Chinese universities based on a dual-game cross-efficiency model

The existing studies that measure the performance of university technology transfer have primarily treated technology transfer as an independent process, neglecting the competitive dynamics within universities and between universities. To bridge this gap, we extend the existing data envelopment analysis (DEA) game models by introducing an innovative dual-game cross-efficiency model. This model comprehensively accounts for the competitive interactions between university research and technology transfer, as well as the competition among universities, measuring technology transfer efficiency within a more integrated competition framework. The efficiency derived from our model integrates both self-evaluation of sub-stages within DMUs and peer-evaluation from other DMUs, making it more acceptable to both internal and external evaluated units. Employing this model, we assessed the efficiencies of technology transfer and research of universities across 30 Chinese provinces. Our analysis reveals that the average efficiency of technology transfer among Chinese universities is 0.3321, which is significantly lower than the average research efficiency of 0.6536. Additionally, the study uncovers significant regional disparities in the efficiency of university technology transfer, indicating a need for tailored strategies to enhance efficiencies in various universities. Finally, comparison with traditional models demonstrates the superiority of our model in both acceptability and comprehensiveness.