Research on the efficiency of technology transfer in Chinese universities from the perspective of supply and demand

The primary challenge in China's university technology transfer ecosystem lies in the misalignment between technological achievement supply and market demand. Compounded by regional economic disparities across China's vast territory, significant variations exist in technology transfer performance among universities in different geographical areas. This study employs DEAP2.1 software to implement both BCC model and Malmquist index methods, enabling comprehensive static and dynamic efficiency evaluations of decision-making units (DMUs) - an innovative approach that addresses current research gaps.Focusing on 31 mainland Chinese regions categorized into four economic zones (eastern, central, western, and northeastern), our analysis reveals pronounced regional disparities in university technology transfer efficiency. The eastern region demonstrates superior supply-demand matching efficiency, while central and western regions exhibit suboptimal resource allocation and lagging technological advancement. Most regions require substantial improvement in technological innovation capacity at the demand side.These findings suggest the need for region-specific policy interventions: Eastern regions may benefit from optimization strategies, whereas central and western regions require transformative policies emphasizing resource reallocation and innovation enhancement. This research contributes both theoretical and practical insights for improving China's technology transfer effectiveness, while offering valuable implications for other economies facing similar developmental challenges. Novel Dual-Perspective Framework: • This study innovatively evaluates university technology transfer efficiency by integrating both the supply side (universities' research output) and the demand side (enterprises' absorption and commercialization), addressing a critical gap in the existing literature. Comprehensive Static and Dynamic Analysis: • The application of both the BCC model (for static efficiency) and the Malmquist index (for dynamic trends) provides a holistic view of efficiency, capturing both the current state and the evolutionary path of technology transfer performance across China. Pronounced Regional Disparities: • Empirical results reveal significant geographical imbalances. The Eastern region demonstrates superior supply-demand matching, while Central and Western regions suffer from suboptimal resource allocation and lagging technological advancement, highlighting the need for region-specific policies. Identification of Key Inefficiency Sources: • The analysis pinpoints that the primary challenge for most regions is not the production of research outputs but a lag in technological progress (Tch < 1) during the commercialization stage and insufficient effective demand from enterprises, indicating a critical misalignment between university offerings and market needs. Targeted Policy Implications: • The findings advocate for differentiated policy interventions: Eastern regions should focus on optimization, while Central and Western regions require transformative policies that enhance resource reallocation, stimulate enterprise demand, and build robust regional innovation ecosystems.