An integration-monitoring approach to the development of sustainable technology and innovation: The case of University Technology Transfer Offices

Abstract

• Integration and monitoring of socio-environmental dimensions in university settings. • New technologies and innovations can drive sustainability-oriented innovation systems. • New technologies and innovations can link macro policies with the micro-level. • TTOs can incorporate socio-environmental sustainability dimensions. • Developing measures for monitoring socio-environmental dimensions is a challenge. Using an integration-monitoring theoretical framework, which assesses the alignment of internal and external perspectives along with performance evaluation, this research demonstrates how suitable political, regulatory, and societal contexts, effective stakeholder engagement, and an active role for middle managers (even in the absence of a clear mandate) are essential for embedding sustainable goals in the development and public transfer of sustainable technologies and innovation. The proposed integration-monitoring framework is applied to the case of university Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) to explore how they can strengthen sustainability-oriented innovation systems. Additionally, it examines the role of TTOs in promoting economic development and commercializing new technologies and innovations while integrating socio-environmental sustainability dimensions. Two university TTOs, one in the USA and one in Spain, were studied using a two-level analysis. This analysis reflects on the understanding and integration of social and environmental sustainability in their activities and evaluates a framework for monitoring their sustainability-oriented efforts. Importantly, this study highlights a fundamental lack of assessment and performance evaluation indicators in the development of sustainable technologies, even in the case of institutions that have fully embraced sustainable innovation goals. The proposed framework and findings from this research can extend beyond the TTO context, providing insights applicable to other organizations tasked with the development and public diffusion of sustainable innovative technologies.

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