James Cunningham, Newcastle University

Jungho Kim, Newcastle University

Chiara Marzocchi, University of Padua

Natalya Radko, Newcastle University

Technology transfer from universities and industry has been central to economic development, but rapidly advancing research and technology demand continuous evolution of university transfer structures and processes. While established frameworks have driven economic impact, emerging disruptions including AI advancement, geopolitical shifts, and intellectual property challenges are testing the resilience of current systems. This special issue examines how technology transfer systems can effectively balance economic impact with social value creation.

The issue invites exploration across multiple levels: macro-level policy frameworks and government R&D investments, meso-level institutional configurations and TTO designs, and micro-level academic entrepreneur behaviours and professional competencies. It particularly addresses how universities can simultaneously pursue economic commercialisation while meeting expectations to address societal grand challenges, and how these dual objectives create tensions requiring new business models and support structures.

Appel publié par The Journal of Technology Transfer. Voir l'appel sur le site de l'éditeur. Fiche de l'appel sur kerostig.

Potential topics

• Elements of technology transfer systems and contextual factors contributing to resilience in different economic scenarios
• Role of social value and prosocial behaviours of academic entrepreneurs in shaping university technology transfer structures
• Blended value creation frictions at macro, meso and micro levels for various stakeholders in research commercialisation
• Inclusivity and participation in technology transfer systems from multiple perspectives
• Public policy mixes and instruments supporting technology transfer systems for economic and social value
• Emerging university TTO configurations addressing societal challenges and geopolitical changes
• Intellectual property leakage, open science models, and evolving legal frameworks affecting value creation
• Future capabilities and competences required by technology transfer actors across sectors
• Influence of stakeholder needs and AI-driven digitalisation on university TTO methodologies and processes
• Non-market strategies driving university TTOs economic and social value creation

Timeline

• December 31, 2026: Full paper submission deadline
• July 1, 2027: Final decisions on accepted papers should be completed

Universities are increasingly expected to act as entrepreneurial institutions that create value beyond teaching and research through entrepreneurship education, knowledge exchange, technology transfer, academic spin-offs, and wider ecosystem engagement. However, the mechanisms through which these activities generate economic and societal value remain insufficiently understood, particularly across the full pathway from capability formation to third-mission and regional impact. Existing research often examines entrepreneurship education, academic entrepreneurship, university-industry-society collaboration, and ecosystem development in relative isolation, while practice still relies heavily on narrow indicators such as patents, licences, spin-off counts, or commercialisation income.

Appel publié par Journal of Intellectual Capital. Lire l'appel complet sur le site de l'éditeur. Fiche de l'appel sur kerostig.

Potential topics

• Entrepreneurship education and entrepreneurial mindset development as intellectual capital formation
• Curriculum design, educator roles, and innovative approaches in entrepreneurship education
• Digital and AI-enabled entrepreneurship education as structural capital
• Academic entrepreneurship and the micro-foundations of entrepreneurial intellectual capital
• Technology transfer offices as intellectual capital management mechanisms
• Intellectual capital, spin-offs, and venture creation in university context
• University-industry-society collaboration and IC-mediated innovation performance
• Incubators, accelerators, science parks, and entrepreneurial support infrastructures
• Entrepreneurial ecosystems around universities and ecosystem-level intellectual capital
• Third-mission impact measurement, reporting, and evaluation through IC frameworks
• Practitioner metrics, policy frameworks, and the measurement of knowledge exchange
• Securing intellectual capital in entrepreneurial universities, including IP governance, data governance, cyber risk, and knowledge leakage
• International and comparative studies of entrepreneurial university models
• Multi-level, longitudinal, mixed-method, and engaged research designs in IC and entrepreneurship

Timeline

• June 1, 2026: Opening date for manuscript submissions
• December 31, 2026: Closing date for manuscript submissions