Framework, processes, and laws linking intellectual property transfers for research and development in higher education

Industrial cooperation, intellectual property (IP) licensing, and technical transfers are important missions for higher education, particularly universities with a strong research focus. These factors are increasingly used as the key indices, in addition to the usual academic publications, for the evaluation and assessment of academic staffs' research performance. In order to better understand the successful framework of industrial cooperation and IP transfers, this research provides a generalizable framework of how IP transfers to industry are successfully managed by universities in Taiwan. This research introduces the current administrative structure of IP management in universities before describing the Taiwan laws that enable universities to license and transfer technologies to public and private companies that contribute significantly to vital economic growth. Finally, the paper provides recommendations for further improvements for industry cooperation and IP transfer for higher education R&D from legislative and legal viewpoints.