Commercialization of academic research: assessing the perception of academicians at a public university in Malaysia

Abstract

PurposeThis study examines the perception and attitudes of academicians regarding factors that influence the commercialization of university research.Design/methodology/approachThe data sample was drawn using a proportionate stratified sampling approach. A self-administered survey was used to obtain data regarding the perception of academicians on the factors that contribute to research commercialization. A total of 131 academicians completed the survey. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results showed that two factors are significant and positively related with commercialization: the academician's behaviour and University-Industry collaboration. Surprisingly, the factors of innovativeness and Intellectual Property management did not have a significant relationship with commercialization.Research limitations/implicationsFor future work, researchers should conduct in-depth interviews with the executive management at research universities and at the Ministry of Education Malaysia to complement our quantitative survey. These decision-makers act as funding sources for commercialization and can provide richer evidence regarding important factors affecting commercialization. They can also provide insight on the issues that prevent the commercialization of research from becoming a reality.Originality/valueCommercialization of Malaysia's university research findings is a critical agenda item in the National Higher Education Strategic Plan. However, in Malaysia, the rate of commercialization of academic research is still unsatisfactory. This study provides important insights regarding intentions behind commercialization by depicting how factors of academic research (i.e. academician's behaviour, innovativeness, Intellectual Properties management, University-Industry collaboration) influence commercialization.