Quarterly Journal of Governance Knowledge

Quarterly Journal of Governance Knowledge

The evolution of scientific research in the field of technology transfer and collaboration: from bilateral cooperation to network cooperation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Naghizadeh 1
Kamran Gholipoor 2
Mehdi Hemati Farsani 3
1 Associate Professor, Department of Technology Management and Entrepreneurship .Allameh Tabatabai' University,, Tehran, Iran.
2 Master's Degree,Department of Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Allameh Tabatabai' University, Tehran, Iran.
3 Master's Degree, Department of Technology Management and Entrepreneurship, Allameh Tabatabai' University,Tehran, Iran.
10.22034/jokog.2024.494047.1033
Abstract
In today’s competitive environment, companies are constantly seeking strategies to enhance their innovative performance and develop new technologies. Significant changes in global markets and the advent of advanced technologies have positioned technological collaboration as a key strategy for achieving a competitive advantage. Despite extensive research in this domain, a comprehensive understanding of the thematic evolution and trends remains a critical gap. This study aims to analyze global technological collaboration and technology transfer comprehensively, identifying key trends and research streams.
The primary objective of this study is to provide a thorough analysis of the evolution of technological collaboration and technology transfer, focusing on key knowledge streams and future research opportunities. This research seeks to answer questions about the impact of emerging technologies on collaboration patterns and the opportunities these shifts create for future studies.
This study employs a bibliometric approach combined with an in-depth analysis of prominent articles in leading research clusters. Data were extracted from the Web of Science database, comprising 7,188 scientific documents related to technological collaboration published between 1985 and 2023. Analytical tools such as Sci2, Vosviewer, and Python were used to assess co-authorship networks, co-citation patterns, and keyword co-occurrence. Additionally, 37 articles from 11 key researchers in this field were deeply analyzed to identify research trajectories.

Main Research Streams: The dominant themes include open innovation, absorptive capacity, university-industry collaboration, and innovation ecosystems.
Impact of Open Innovation: As a prevailing research stream, open innovation plays a pivotal role in facilitating technological collaboration and creating multi-party value.
Emerging Role of Innovation Ecosystems: Focused on informal and networked collaborations, ecosystems are rapidly becoming a central theme in this domain.
Digital Trends: The rise of collaborative digital platforms and enabling technologies such as AI and blockchain has created new opportunities for technological partnerships.
Role of Universities: Technology transfer from academia to industry, especially in science-driven fields like biotechnology and artificial intelligence, has become a significant research focus.

The findings highlight that the patterns of technological collaboration are undergoing substantial transformations. Traditional bilateral partnerships are shifting toward networked and ecosystem-oriented approaches. Open innovation, by fostering knowledge exchange and resource sharing, remains at the forefront of these changes. Concurrently, the emergence of digital technologies introduces new challenges in intellectual property management and stakeholder engagement.
The results of this study can guide policymakers and business leaders in developing strategies that leverage technological collaboration. Researchers can also utilize these findings to identify emerging opportunities in areas such as innovation ecosystems and technology transfer. This work emphasizes the importance of integrating collaborative models into innovation strategies for sustainable growth.
Technological collaboration continues to play a crucial role in driving innovation and technology development in complex and dynamic economic environments. With the rapid growth of digital and ecosystem-focused domains, emphasizing the development of multi-party and networked collaboration models can significantly advance the field. Future research should address practical and theoretical challenges in implementing these models while examining their long-term impacts on innovation sustainability.
Keywords
Technology Collaboration
Technology Transfer
Open Innovation
Ecosystem
Digital
Subjects
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Quarterly Journal of Governance Knowledge
Volume 2, Issue 4
Autumn 2024
Pages 54-81