Technology transfer between universities and the U.K. offshore industry

The author examines the acquisition of technology with specified reference to the UK offshore industry and its attempts to use university research results as one input to its new product development effort. Three main issues are examined: (i) the circumstances precipitating companies to use universities as a source of R and D capability; (ii) the barriers impeding the transfer of technology from universities to industry; and (iii) alternative ways of overcoming such barriers. The findings suggest that there are a variety of circumstances which precipitate companies to tap the R and D capability of the academic sector. Moreover, it appears that the original circumstances leading to collaboration affect the types of project carried out and the type of industry commitment given in such projects. Three main types of barriers to industry-university collaboration were found and alternative means of overcoming these barriers are considered.