• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.444-475
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• 2013

This study explores the trajectories of institutionalization for technology transfer both in the U.S. and Korea, particularly focusing on two universities: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), and the University of California (UC). By comparing the diverging paths of the two universities in setting up institutions, this paper examines the limits of and lessons for technology transfer policies both to Korean government and universities in Korea. The University of California was involved in designing rules and codes, on one hand, to stimulate its members' engagements with technology transfer activity and, on the other hand, to keep its academic integrity since, no later than, the 1960s. The efforts and consequences range from its rules of patenting system to its codes of conducts. Through making rules formal and resolving conflicts on technology transfer activity, the U.S., and the University of California have decreased uncertainties for its members' engagements with industries. By contrast, KAIST has not built up such range of rules or codes due to its shorter experience and its constraining legal contexts. Korea introduced the legal format of the US Bayh-Dole Act in 2002, and its central government has led the initiatives for technology transfer, not allowing much latitude for its universities. This study implies a set of policy recommendations to the Korean government and KAIST: to build entrepreneurial universities, the government should give greater latitude to universities, so universities should be more rigorously engaged in developing their own rules and routines; the government, rather, should focus on providing bridging R&D funds like the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), so researchers could draw on resources to move their basic research into next phases; KAIST would be better to promote its members to engage with industries, and introduce conduct codes that allow its academics to engage in industrial activity, rather than building up its commercialization facilities.