Factors Influencing the Knowledge and Technology Transfer in Higher Education Institutions in Developing Countries

Abstract

The advancement of knowledge and globalization is transforming the world. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have thus assumed a more active role through knowledge transfer (KT) and technology transfer (TT), not only in developed countries but also in emerging economies. This research analyzed the internal situation of Colombian HEIs, focusing on the management, administration, teaching and research subsystems, and how these interact with their environment to improve the effectiveness of KT and TT. The non-probabilistic sample included 258 participants from 59 public and private HEIs, who answered a 53-item questionnaire. A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) is presented to analyze the relationships between six constructs: (i) leadership and governance (LG), (ii) organizational capacity, people and incentives (OCPI), (iii) institution and external relations (IER), (iv) knowledge and technology transfer impact (KTTI), (v) KT and (vi) TT. The findings reveal a limited development of KT and TT in the Republic of Colombia. This study empirically validated four hypotheses that relate constructs one to another: KT and LG (0.048), KT and OCPI (0.045), KT and IER (0.032) and TT and KTTI (0.035). Environmental pressures on HEIs may explain the direction of the causal relationships found in the study. This research contributes to the discussion on the role of HEIs in emerging economies and the importance of adapting the KT and TT models to the specific conditions of each territory, facilitating the economic and social development of developing countries.