The Technology Transfer Office (TTO): Toward a Viable Model for Universities in Morocco

Authors

  • Omar Elyoussoufi Attou Hassan First University of Settat

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1229/tecempresarialjournal.v18i1.130

Keywords:

Innovation, Technology Transfer Offices, University’s Third-Mission, National Innovation System, Morocco

Abstract

The link between the enterprise and the university in Morocco is positioned within the framework of what is commonly known as the “University’s Third-Mission”. This relationship is primarily concerned with continued education, consultancy, collaborative research and development (R&D) and technology transfer from the university to the enterprise. This third mission has been promoted by the university through the establishment of specialized structures such as university enterprise interfaces, incubators and technological information centres for invention patents. Also, several strategies and programs of incentives for innovation have been promoted by the public authorities to create a national system of innovation in Morocco. However, all these efforts failed to unleash and activate the potential of Moroccan universities. In this work, we will propose an effective and efficient institutional Technology Transfer (TT) policy backed up by a complete repository related to the establishing of the University Technology Transfer Office (UTTO). This proposal complements the work done in a previous paper, which assesses the different policies and programs within Moroccan universities, related to TT activities, and proposes a remodelling of the value chain of the process of technology transfer in the universities.

References

Ambos, T. C, Makela, K., Birkinshaw, J. and D’ Este, P., 2008. When does

university research get commercialized? Creating ambidexterity in

research institutions. Journal of Management Studies, 45(8), 1424-

DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-6486.2008.00804.x

Bercovitz, J., Feldman, M., Feller, I. and Burton, R., 2001. Organizational structure as a determinant of academic patent and licensing behavior: An exploratory study of Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Pennsylvania State universities. Journal of Technology Transfer, 26(1), 21-35.

DOI : 10.1023/A:1007828026904

Bray, M. J. and Lee, J. N., 2000. University revenues from technology

transfer: Licensing fees vs. equity positions. Journal of Business Venturing, 15, 385-392. DOI: 10.1016/S0883-9026(98)00034-2

CNRST (The Moroccan National Centre for Scientific and Technical

Research), 2017. Annual Report 2015. CNRST, Morocco.

Coupe, T., 2003. Science is golden: Academic R&D and university patents. Journal of Technology Transfer, 28(1), 31-46. DOI:

1023/A:1021626702728

Debackere, K. and Veugelers, R., 2005. The role of academic technology

transfer organizations in improving industry science links. Research

Policy, 34(3), 321-342. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2004.12.003

E.C. (European Commission), 2013. Horizon 2020 European Commission Internet portal. Available from: https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/

Elyoussoufi Attou, O. and Arouch, M., 2016. Current situation of the

national system of the technological innovation in Morocco. International Journal of Innovation and Scientific Research, 20 (1), 83-89.

Available from: www.ijisr.issr-journals.org/abstract.php?article=IJISR-15-278-03

Elyoussoufi Attou, O., El Ganich, S., Taouaf, I., Arouch, M. and Oulhadj,

B., 2019. Modelization of the value chain for effective technology

transfer within universities in Morocco. International Journal of

Advanced Trends in Computer Science and Engineering, 8(5), 1808-

DOI: 10.30534/ijatcse/2019/03852019

Etzkowitz, H., 2003. Research groups as ‘quasi-firms’: The invention of

the entrepreneurial university. Research Policy, 32(1), 109-121. DOI:

1016/S0048-7333(02)00009-4

Hoppe, H. C. and Ozdenoren, E., 2005. Intermediation in innovation.

International Journal of Industrial Organization, 23(5-6), 483-50.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijindorg.2005.03.003

Law n° 01-00 on the organization of higher education in Morocco, 2000.

O. B. No. 4800 of 1 June 2000. Dahir n° 1-00-199 of 15 Safar 1421.

Available from: https://www.enssup.gov.ma/sites/default/files/ETABLISSEMENT-SUP/Dahir_n-1-00-199_du19mai2000.pdf

Link, A. N. and Scott, J. T., 2005. Opening the ivory tower’s door: An

analysis of the determinants of the formation of US university spinoff companies. Research Policy, 34(7), 1106-1112. DOI: 10.1016/j.

respol.2005.05.015

Lockett, A., Wright, M. and Franklin, S., 2003. Technology transfer and

universities’ spin-out strategies. Small Business Economics, 20(2),

-200. DOI: 10.1023/A:1022220216972

Lockett, A., Siegel, D., Wright, M., and Ensley, M. D., 2005. The creation of spin-off firms at public research institutions: Managerial and

policy implications. Research Policy, 34(7), 981–993. DOI:10.1016/j.

respol.2005.05.010

Lockett, A. and Wright, M., 2005. Resources, capabilities, risk capital

and the creation of university spin-out companies. Research Policy,

(7), 1043-105. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2005.05.006

Macho-Stadler, I., Perez-Castrillo, D. and Veugelers, R., 2007. Licensing

of university inventions: The role of a technology transfer office. International Journal of Industrial Organization, 25(3), 483-510. DOI:

1016/j.ijindorg.2006.06.001

Mankins, J.C., 1995. Technology readiness levels. A White Paper, NASA,Washington, DC.

Mankins, J.C., 2009. Technology readiness assessments: A retrospective.

Acta Astronaut, 65, 1216 - 1223, Pergamon. DOI: 10.1016/j.actaastro.2009.03.058

Markman, G. D., Gianiodis, P. T., Phan, P. H. and Balkin, D. B., 2005. Innovation speed: Transferring university technology to market. Research Policy, 34(1), 1058-1075. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2005.05.007

MHESRET (Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Executive Training), 2013. Annual Report 2013, MHESRET, Morocco.

Published

2023-01-27

How to Cite

Omar Elyoussoufi Attou. (2023). The Technology Transfer Office (TTO): Toward a Viable Model for Universities in Morocco. TEC EMPRESARIAL, 18(1), 63–71. https://doi.org/10.1229/tecempresarialjournal.v18i1.130