Technology transfer: how to remove obstacles in advancing employment growth

It has become increasingly evident that technology is a major determinant of the competitiveness of cities and regions nowadays. The availability of new technology essentially reduces the amount of uncertainty with which companies deal in their daily operations. In addition, new technology is a basis for the establishment of new companies and the restructuring of old ones. It therefore, may essentially influence the development direction of urban and regional economies. First, this paper will discuss a communication approach to technology transfer. This approach pays attention to barriers and the removing of barriers in communication processes underlying technology transfer (Section 2). Next, in an empirical part, the paper will focus on experiences in technology transfer through academic transfer institutes (Section 3) and science parks (Section 4). This analysis is based on a blend of empirical studies in Europe and the United States. The paper will conclude with an examination of practical issues concerning obstacles to technology transfer (Section 5). To this purpose it provides an evaluation framework for the assessment of potential success of new science parks, namely by means of the so-called ‘Pentagon of Concerns’. It will be discussed how this evaluation framework can be operationalized by means of