EXPLORING FACTORS SHAPING THE COMMERCIALISATION OF UNIVERSITY RESEARCH IN MALAYSIA: A CONCEPTUAL PAPER
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35631/IJMOE.829003Keywords:
Intellectual Property (IP) Management, Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship, Knowledge Technology Transfer, Market Validation, Research Expertise, University Research Commercialisation, University-Industry CollaborationAbstract
The commercialisation of research conducted within a university has a significant role to play in supporting both the innovation and economic development of a nation as well as the transfer of knowledge. While in Malaysia the commercialisation of research is relatively ineffective despite the various initiatives of the government and the different funding schemes. The intention of this paper is to outline a research methodology which can be used to determine the factors which contribute to commercialisation of the results of university research. This framework focuses on four independent variables: knowledge and technology transfer from universities, the use and protection of intellectual property, collaboration between universities and industry, and market validation. This research proposes that a researcher expertise can be a key factor in the commercialisation process. This expertise, which reflects a researcher's ability, awareness and preparedness, can influence the way a commercialises its scientific output. At the core of the proposed mechanism is the Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship (KSTE). This theory suggests that universities facilitate innovation in the regions where they are located by engaging academics in business and through other knowledge spillover channels. This paper provides useful indicators for those universities, research teams, policymakers and governments involved in commercialising research output for them to improve their output commercialisation performance. This study aims to help identify the key areas which need improvement so as to increase the number of successful commercialisation of research findings in Malaysia. The research findings are anticipated to lead to the development of suitable strategies which can increase the impact of research in the country. The Malaysian innovation system will thus be strengthened.
Downloads
References
Abd Rahim, N., Mohamed, Z. B., & Amrin, A. (2021). From lab to market: Challenges faced by academic entrepreneur in technology transfer pursuit. International Journal of Business and Society, 22(3), 1256–1268. https://doi.org/10.33736/ijbs.4300.2021
Abid, N., Cunningham, J. A., & Perea‑Vicente, J. (2025). A thematic review of 45 years of The Journal of Technology Transfer. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 50, 1739–1784. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-024-10154-x
Acs, Z., Audretsch, D., & Lehmann, E. (2013). The Knowledge Spillover Theory of Entrepreneurship. Small Business Economics, 41, 757–774. https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780195183511.003.0003
Audretsch, D., Belitski, M., & Fiedler, A. (2025). The knowledge spillover theory of entrepreneurship and innovation : taking stock and new directions. The Journal of Technology Transfer.
Aziz;, N. I. S. K. A. S. A., & Rajiani, I. (2020). From Innovation To Market: Integrating University And Industry Perspectives Towards Commercialising Research Output. Forum Scientiae Oeconomia, 8(4), 5–18. https://doi.org/10.23762/Fso_vol8_no4_6
Azlin, N., Zaki, M., Rahman, A., Rahim, A., & Hashim, F. M. (2023). Effective Process of Commercialization at the Research Institutions in. 1(1), 45–57.
Battaglia, D., Paolucci, E., & Ughetto, E. (2023). Hurdles in University-Industry Technology Transfer: Why Research-Based Inventions are Not Transferred to the Market? IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, PP, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2023.3269731
Bereuter, T., Dvořáková, A., & Rudyk, I. (2023). Market Success for Inventions: Patent Commercialization Scoreboard and Innovation Support. Management for Professionals, Part F285, 355–373. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-16993-9_19
Biranvand, A. (2020). Factors affecting knowledge commercialisation in university: A case study. DESIDOC Journal of Library and Information Technology, 40(2), 421–430. https://doi.org/10.14429/djlit.40.02.14829
Choo Ta, G., Abdul Halim, S., Amir Sultan, M. M., Razali, W. D., Mokhtar, M., & Komoo, I. (2024). Journey of a university research institute: transition from multi-disciplinary to inter-disciplinary research in supporting sustainable development goals (SDGS). International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-01-2024-0009
Dolmans, S. A. M., Walrave, B., Read, S., & van Stijn, N. (2021). Knowledge transfer to industry: how academic researchers learn to become boundary spanners during academic engagement. Journal of Technology Transfer, 47(5), 1422–1450. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-021-09882-1
Dzakiy, U. N., Simatupang, T. M., & Prasetio, E. A. (2023). Factors, Routes, and Existing Theories of Technology Commercialization in University: A Conceptual Framework. STI Policy and Management Journal, 8(1), 83–104. https://doi.org/10.14203/stipm.2023.365
Feldman, M. P. (2014). Entpreprenerial Universities and Technology Transfer : A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Knowledge-Based Economic Development Entpreprenerial Universities and Technology Transfer : A Conceptual Framework for Understanding Knowledge-Based Economic D. January 2006. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-005-5029-z
Guindalini, C., Verreynne, M. L., & Kastelle, T. (2021). Taking scientific inventions to market: Mapping the academic entrepreneurship ecosystem. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 173, 121144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2021.121144
Habidin, N. F., Nur, S., & Yahaya, A. (2024). Intellectual Property and Academia Commercialization in Malaysia. 14(8), 172–186. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i8/22241
Ismail, N., Nor, M. J. M., & Sidek, S. (2015). A Framework for a Successful Research Products Commercialisation: A Case of Malaysian Academic Researchers. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 195(July), 283–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.06.163
Khademi, T., & Ismail, K. (2013). Commercialization success factors of university research output. Jurnal Teknologi (Sciences and Engineering), 64(3), 137–141. https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v64.2284
Khademi, T., Ismail, K., Lee, C. T., & Shafaghat, A. (2015). Enhancing Commercialization Level of Academic Research Outputs in Research University. Jurnal Teknologi, 4, 141–151.
Kim, J. K., & Cho, K. T. (2022). Effects of Technology Commercialization Proactiveness on Commercialization Success: The Case of ETRI in Korea. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127056
Kotiranta, A., Tahvanainen, A., Kovalainen, A., & Poutanen, S. (2020). Forms and varieties of research and industry collaboration across disciplines. Heliyon, 6, e03404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03404
Lee, K., & Jung, H. J. (2021). Does TTO capability matter in commercializing university technology? Evidence from longitudinal data in South Korea. Research Policy, 50, 104133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2020.104133
Leitner, K. H., Bergner, S., & Rybnicek, R. (2021). The role of heads of departments in the commercialization of university research. Journal of Business Economics, 91(3), 353–378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11573-020-01003-y
LiXi, W., & Rahman, F. A. (2024). New Media’s Influence in Shaping Political Awareness, Attitudes and Behaviours: The Media Literacy as a Moderator and Peer Influence as a Mediator. International Journal of Advanced Research in Education and Society, 6(2), 266–279. https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:270897261
Malaysia Education Blueprint 2015-2025 (Higher Education). (2015). www.moe.gov.my
Mascarenhas, C., Mendes, T., Galvão, A. R., Marques, C. S., & Ferreira, J. J. (2024). Academic researchers’ motivations to engage in university–industry collaboration in cross-border regions. In Journal of Technology Transfer (Issue 0123456789). Springer US. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-024-10082-w
Meissner, D., & Shmatko, N. (2017). “Keep open”: the potential of gatekeepers for the aligning universities to the new Knowledge Triangle. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 123, 191–198. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2016.03.012
Mensah, G. B. (2023). Monetizing Research in the 21st Century: The Commercialization of Industrial and Social Sciences. November. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.36809.52328
Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation. (2021). National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy 2021-2030. Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, 1–24.
Miranda, F. J., Pérez-Mayo, J., García-Gallego, J. M., Valero-Amaro, V., & Rubio, S. (2021). An assessment of the determinants of licensing of university patents: a survey of Spanish universities. Academia Revista Latinoamericana de Administracion, 34(3), 478–492. https://doi.org/10.1108/ARLA-07-2020-0162
MOHE. (2015). Malaysia Education Blueprint. 1(1), 1–40. https://doi.org/10.1088/1751-8113/44/8/085201
Naqiyuddin, A., Rahman, A., Rauf, A., Jaafar, R., Mohd Idris, M. F., Abd Majid, Z., & Mohd Rom, K. B. (2016). Commercialisation Activities in Malaysian Universities : Issues and Challenges. Journal of Administrative Science, 13(2), 2007–2010. https://jas.uitm.edu.my/index.php/14-archieve-2015/38-volume-13-no-2-dec-2016
Padilla, B., Sossa, J. W. Z., Ocampo-l, C., & Ramírez-Carmona, M. (2023). University Technology Transfer from a Knowledge-Flow Approach — Systematic Literature Review. Sustainability, 15(6550), 1–21.
Perkmann, M., Tartari, V., McKelvey, M., Autio, E., Broström, A., D’Este, P., Fini, R., Geuna, A., Grimaldi, R., Hughes, A., Krabel, S., Kitson, M., Llerena, P., Lissoni, F., Salter, A., & Sobrero, M. (2013). Academic engagement and commercialisation: A review of the literature on university-industry relations. Research Policy, 42(2), 423–442. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2012.09.007
Plata, C. (2024). Innovation investment and performance: the moderating role of university collaborations. Journal of Management History. https://doi.org/10.1108/JMH-09-2023-0100
Ramli, M. F., Majid, M., Ya’acob, F. F., & Badyalina, B. (2021). Barrier Towards Commercialisation of Research Findings Among Science and Engineering Academicians at Malaysian Public Universities. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 11(7). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v11-i7/10020
Ramli, M. F., & Senin, A. A. (2021). Factors Affecting Effective University-Industry Collaboration During the Development Research Stage. International Journal of Management Studies, 28(2), 127–159. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32890/ijms2021.28.2.6
Sapah, R. M., Ali, M. H., & Ibrahim, R. (2022). Critical Factors in Technology Transfer Office ( TTO ) Process That Support Successful Technology Transfer Within Research Universities ( RUs ). 4(3), 42–50.
Sattiraju, V. K., Pandey, R., Pallela, R., Sircar, A., Ligade, V. S., Muragundi, P. M., & Janodia, M. D. (2022). Intellectual property rights policies of higher education institutions (HEIs) in India: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, 13(4), 837–848. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSTPM-01-2021-0002
Shaaran, S., Fansuree, E., & Ngah, R. (2021). Conceptualizing Entrepreneurial Orientation and Organizational Performance of SME Firms : Organizational Culture as Antecedent and Innovation Management as Moderator. 7(2).
Shahidan, N. H., Abdul Latif, A. S., & Abdul Wahab, S. (2019). The Need for a University Start-up Framework for Commercialisation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR): A Malaysia Perspective. Sustainable Business and Society in Emerging Economies, 1(2), 123–134. https://doi.org/10.26710/sbsee.v1i2.1112
Shamsir, M. S., & Abd Jamil, A. (2019). Escaping the Middle Innovation Trap: Case Studies of Two Successful Spin-off Companies from a Malaysian Research University. Journal of Research Management & Governance, 2(1), 10–21. https://doi.org/10.22452/jrmg.vol2no1.2
Singh, A. K., & Kumar, S. (2022). Expert’s Perception on Technology Transfer and Commercialization, and Intellectual Property Rights in India: Evidence from Selected Research Organizations. Journal of Management, Economics, and Industrial Organization, 6(1), 1–33. https://doi.org/10.31039/jomeino.2022.6.1.1
Suhaimi, N. S., Abdul Halim, M. A. S., & Hashim, H. A. (2020). Commercialization of academic research: assessing the perception of academicians at a public university in Malaysia. Journal of Applied Research in Higher Education, 14(1), 59–76. https://doi.org/10.1108/JARHE-04-2020-0071
Suominen, A., & Deschryvere, M. (2024). Barriers to immaterial property rights development in research organizations: an explorative study from Finland. Journal of Technology Transfer, 0123456789. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-024-10062-0
Sutopo, W., Khofiyah, N. A., Hisjam, M., & Ma’aram, A. (2022). Performance Efficiency Measurement Model Development of a Technology Transfer Office (TTO) to Accelerate Technology Commercialization in Universities. Applied System Innovation, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.3390/asi5010021
Szulczewska-Remi, A., & Nowak-Mizgalska, H. (2023). Who really acts as an entrepreneur in the science commercialisation process: the role of knowledge transfer intermediary organisations. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 15(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-09-2020-0334
Tweheyo, G., Abaho, E., & M Verma, A. (2022). The Commercialisation of University Research Outputs: A Review of Literature. Texila International Journal of Management, 8(2), 144–162. https://doi.org/10.21522/tijmg.2015.08.02.art012
Wekesa, M., Mikinyango, A., Okayo, A., Wekesa, K., & Sikuku, J. W. (2024). Commercialization of Intellectual Property Rights at Universities as an Additional Revenue Stream. 3(3), 37–49. https://doi.org/10.56397/LE.2024.03.06
Xia, Y., & Jia, Y. (2023). The impact of industry-university-research projects on biopharmaceutical companies’ innovation performance: moderating roles of government subsidies for innovation. Frontiers in Public Health. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1271364
Yoo, H. S., & Jung, Y. L. (2024). The Effect of the Commercialization Failure of SMEs’ R&D on Survival. IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management, 71, 6078–6089. https://doi.org/10.1109/TEM.2024.3378690
Zarea, F., Douglas, E. J., Obschonka, M., Davidsson, P., Audretsch, D. B., & Hutmacher, D. W. (2025). When the marketplace comes to the research laboratory : technology transfer efficiency of innovation ‑ driven publicly funded research centers. The Journal of Technology Transfer, 50, 2556–2586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-025-10188-9
Zhou, J., & Wang, M. (2023). Technology in Society The role of government-industry-academia partnership in business incubation : Evidence from new R & D institutions in China. Technology in Society, 72, 102194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techsoc.2022.102194
