Technology transfer: how to remove obstacles in advancing employment growth

It has become increasingly evident that technology is a major determinant of thecompetitiveness of cities and regions nowadays. The availability of new technologyessentially reduces the amount of uncertainty with which companies deal in their dailyoperations. In addition, new technology is a basis for the establishment of new companiesand the restructuring of old ones. It therefore, may essentially influence thedevelopment direction of urban and regional economies.First, this paper will discuss a communication approach to technology transfer.This approach pays attention to barriers and the removing of barriers in communicationprocesses underlying technology transfer (Section 2). Next, in an empirical part, thepaper will focus on experiences in technology transfer through academic transferinstitutes (Section 3) and science parks (Section 4). This analysis is based on a blend ofempirical studies in Europe and the United States. The paper will conclude with anexamination of practical issues concerning obstacles to technology transfer (Section 5).To this purpose it provides an evaluation framework for the assessment of potentialsuccess of new science parks, namely by means of the so-called `Pentagon of Concerns'.