A model for selecting appropriate technology for incubator-university collaboration by considering the technology transfer mechanism

Abstract

A technology incubator provides an important support for a technology transfer mechanism. A technology incubator bridges the incubatees to the technology provider. In our research, we propose a technology selection model for the incubatees. Incubator managers, as decision-makers, attempt to evaluate new technology for the incubatees by comparing its profit with that of the old or established technology. The technology is proposed by a technology provider, which in this case is a university. In the technology selection activity, the distance between the technology level of incubatees and transferred technology should be considered. Unfortunately, there has been no effort to formulate a technology selection model in the technology incubator that considers the technology distance and is linked to the incubatees’ profit as financial performance. We examine the impact of the technological-level and technology assimilation rate in the technology selection process in the technology incubator. We analyse the external factor of customer acceptance of new technology with a probabilistic value and technology obsolescence. Furthermore, we introduce a profit-sharing scheme to share the profit of the incubatees with the university as a technology provider. Utilising a profit-sharing scheme means sharing the risk between incubatees and the university.

Keywords:

• technology incubator
• technology selection
• technology transfer
• profit-sharing
• technology obsolescence