Abstract
Results are presented of a National Academy of Engineering consensus study that documents the contributions of academic research to the growth and competitiveness of five industries – aerospace; financial services; medical devices; network systems and communications; and transportation, distribution, and logistics services. Academic research has made substantial contributions in varying degrees to all five industries. These have ranged from graduates trained in modern research techniques, to fundamental concepts and “key ideas” out of basic and applied research, to the development of tools, prototypes, and marketable products, processes, and services. In network systems, there is a history of university involvement in serving as test beds for new networking concepts and in spawning firms. The academic medical center provides a distinctive environment for testing and incremental improvement of medical devices and for conducting essential clinical trials. In financial services, academic economics and mathematics research contributions have been important, in spite of the lack of a well-developed R&D infrastructure for the industry. Challenges and opportunities for enhancing academic research contributions are presented in the areas of regulatory research and innovation, service sector innovation, information technology, intellectual property rights, and the role and identity of the university.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adams, J.D., 1990, 'Fundamental Stocks of Knowledge and Productivity Growth', Journal of Political Economy 98 (4) 673–702
Association of University Technology Managers, 1999, AUTM Licensing Survey: FY 1998, Norwalk, Conn.: AUTM.
BankBoston, 1997, MIT: The Impact of Innovation, Boston: A BankBoston Economics Department Special Report.
Cohen, W.M. et al., 1998, 'Industry and the Academy: Uneasy Partners in the Cause of Technological Advance', in R. Noll ed., Challenges to Research Universities, Washington, D.C.: The Brookings Institution.
Delaney, R., 1999, 10th Annual 'State of Logistics Report', Cass Information Systems, Inc., //http:rrwww.cassinfo.com/ bob_press_conf 1999.html.
Dorenfest, S., 1997, 'A Look Behind Rapid Growth in Healthcare IS', Healthcare-Informatics Online, 〈www.healthcare formatics.comr/issues/1997/06_97rdoren.htm〉.
Feller, I., 1997, 'Technology Transfer From Universities', in. J.C. Smart (ed.), Higher Education: Handbook of Theory and Research, New York: Agathon Press.
Jaffe, A., 1989, 'Real Effects of Academic Research', American Economic Review 76, 984–1001.
Jones, C.I. and J.C. Williams, 1998, 'Measuring the Social. Return to R & N', Quarterly Journal of Economics 113 (4), 1119–1135.
Leone, A. et al., undated, A Survey of Technology Based Companies Founded by Members of the Stanford University Community, Palo Alto, Calif.: Stanford University Office of Licensing.
Lundvall, B.-Å., 1992, 'Introduction', in B.-Å. Lundvall (ed)., National Systems of Innovation: Towards a Theory of Innovation and Interactive Learning, London: Pinter Publishers.
Mansfield, E., 1991, 'Estimates of the Social Returns from Research and Development', in M.O. Meredith et al., (eds)., AAAS 1991 Science and Technology Policy Yearbook, Washington, D.C.: AAAS, p. 319.
McGraw-Hill & U.S. Department of Commerce, 2000, U.S. Industry & Trade Outlook 2000, New York: McGraw-Hill.
Morgan, R.P. et al., forthcoming, 'Patenting and Invention Activity of U.S. Scientists and Engineers in the Academic Sector: Comparisons with Industry', Journal of Technology Transfer.
Morgan, R.P. et al., 1997, 'Academic Engineering Research At A Time of Change: The Tilt Towards Industry', Proceedings of IEEE International Symposium on Technology and Society, Glasgow, Scotland, U.K., June 20- 21, pp. 226–234.
Narin, F. et al., 1997, 'The Increasing Linkage Between U.S. Technology and Public Science', in A. Teich et al. (eds.), AAAS 1998 Science and Technology Yearbook, Washington, D.C.: American Association for the Advancement of Science, pp. 101–102.
National Academy of Engineering, forthcoming, The Impact of Academic Research on Industrial Performance: A Multi-Industry Study, Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
National Research Council, 1999, Funding a Revolution: Government Support for Computing Research, Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
National Research Council, 2000, Making IT Better: Expanding the Scope of Information Technology Research to Meet Society's Needs, Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press.
Press, E. and J. Washburn, 2000, 'The Kept University', The Atlantic Monthly 285 (3), 39-ff.
Pressman, L., 2000, Measuring Product Development Outcomes of Patent Licensing at M.I.T., paper presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., February 20.
Siegel, D., D. Waldman, and A. Link, 1999, Assessing the Impact of Organizational Practices on the Productivity of University Technology Transfer Offices: An Exploratory Study, National Bureau of Economic Research Working Paper No. 7256, Cambridge, Mass.: National Bureau of Economic Research.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1999, Statistical Abstract of the United States: 1999, (119th edition), Washington, D.C.
U.S. Department of Transportation, 1999, Transportation Statistics Annual Report 1999, BTS99-03, Washington, D.C.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Grossman, J.H., Reid, P.P. & Morgan, R.P. Contributions of Academic Research to Industrial Performance in Five Industry Sectors. The Journal of Technology Transfer 26, 143–152 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007848631448
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007848631448