Technology Transfer Performance and Mindsets of TTO Staff : Evidence from Japan and Europe

A comparative analysis focusing on the mindsets of technology transfer office's (TTO) staff supporting the commercialization of university-based research is presented in this paper. The study compares Japanese TTO staff with European TTO staff through which the academia-industry related laws preparation period and scale of technology transfer market resemble those of Japan. The research analyzes three mindsets: mindsets toward cost effectiveness of intellectual property management; mindsets toward commercialization of university-based research; and mindsets toward contributions to local communities. These results may suggest Japanese TTO staff leaning toward the mindset of commercialization of university-based research and have a strong mindset of utilizing from university patents. However, Japanese TTO staff exhibit a weak mindset toward cost effectiveness of intellectual property management and local social contributions.