Applying a Hybrid Multiple Attribute Decision-Making Model to Evaluate the Improvement Strategy for Effective Technology Transfer Modes

With the unprecedented growth of technological advancement, effective technological transfer has become increasingly important in all dimensions of human lives.Technological transfer is a multi-level and complex ecosystem network with complicated inter-relational elements and effective factors.This complexity raises the question of how to rearrange the elements of the technology transfer to improve its positive performance.To address this issue, this study aims to compare the performance and gaps of the three modes of technology transfer, which are technology entrepreneurship, technology licensing, and technology shareholding, by evaluating the three participants, which are universities/research institutes, corporations, and intermediary agencies, using related attributes.This study applies a hybrid multiple attribute decision-making (HMADM) model including the DEMATEL for constructing the INRM, DANP for computing influence weights, modified VIKOR for evaluating the performances and gaps among the three technology transfer modes so that to develop sustainable and systemic improvement strategies.At the macro level, the results show that, the technology transfers modes receive an overall positive effect, especially universities/research institutions.At the micro level, the technology licensing has not only the highest performance but also the largest gap.According to this finding, technology licensing is the most feasible way to cater to technology transfer at the macro level from the micro level.The findings suggest decision makers pay attention to the role of universities/research institutes as the main factor influencing technology transfer effectiveness.Also, they should focus on influential attributes such as researcher participation and technical collaboration ability for reducing the gap.