Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in Malaysian public universities play a pivotal role in bridging academic research and market application. However, these non-profit entities face persistent challenges in translating research outputs into commercially viable innovations. This conceptual paper proposes a theoretically grounded framework to enhance technology commercialization capabilities (TCC) within these institutions. Guided by Open Innovation Theory and Dynamic Capabilities Theory, the framework identifies Market Orientation, Funding, and Strategic Alliances as core organizational enablers, while introducing the Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO) of project managers as a moderating variable. By integrating structural and behavioral dimensions, this study addresses significant gaps in the literature on university -industry collaboration, especially within emerging economies. The proposed model contributes to theory development and offers actionable insights for policymakers and academic leaders aiming to strengthen the commercialization ecosystem. The paper concludes with directions for future empirical research to validate the proposed relationships and to assess their practical relevance in diverse institutional contexts.
Abdalkrim, G., & Guizani, M. (2022). Strategic alignment and performance of university–industry collaboration: Empirical evidence from Middle Eastern institutions. Journal of Technology Management & Innovation, 17(2), 35–49.
Abdul Hamid, A., & Mazlan, M. (2016). Innovation and technology transfer in Malaysian public
universities: Some preliminary findings. Journal of Technology Management and
Business, 3(2), 18–27.
Abdul Hamid, A., & Mazlan, N. H. (2016). Commercialization of academic research in Malaysian universities. Journal of Business and Social Review in Emerging Economies, 2(2), 197 204.
Ali, S., Hamzah, M., & Rahman, H. A. (2021). Technology transfer governance in Malaysian public universities: A systematic review. Malaysian Journal of Higher Education, 19(3),
22–37.
Almarri, K. (2024). Entrepreneurial orientation and firm performance in knowledge-intensive industries. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 13(1), 15–28.
Almeida, F. (2021). Open-innovation practices: Diversity in Portuguese SMEs. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 7(3), 169. https://doi.org/10.3390/joitmc7030169
Andrews, K., Mohamed, N., & Salleh, M. (2024). University spin-offs and technology commercialization: Trends and trajectories in Southeast Asia. Asian Journal of Innovation Policy, 3(1), 44–59.
Bamel, U., Budhwar, P., & Stokes, P. (2021). Entrepreneurial orientation in public-sector research institutions: A conceptual analysis. Management Decision, 59(3), 512–531.
Behfar, H., Dabi, M., & Hashemi, M. (2024). The role of funding in supporting innovation-driven ecosystems. Journal of Innovation and Development Economics, 12(1), 45–59.
Berka, R., & Achelhi, H. (2020). Proactiveness and risk-taking as mediators of EO–performance relationship in public research centres. Journal of Entrepreneurship Education, 23(5), 1–12.
Bogers, M., Chesbrough, H., Heaton, S., & Teece, D. J. (2019). Strategic management of open innovation: A dynamic-capabilities perspective. California Management Review, 62(1), 77–94. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008125619885150
Calcagnini, G. (2018). The role of university knowledge spillovers in the creation of spin-offs: Evidence from Italian academic data. Small Business Economics, 51(3), 625–643.
Cavallo, A., Ghezzi, A., & Balocco, R. (2018). Entrepreneurial ecosystem research: Present debates and future directions. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 15(4), 1291–1321. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-018-0526-3
Cevallos, G. R., & Sánchez, D. G. (2024). Dynamic capabilities and performance of family businesses in emerging economies. Business: Theory and Practice, 25(1), 263–277. https://doi.org/10.3846/btp.2024.20069
Chesbrough, H. W. (2003). Open innovation: The new imperative for creating and profiting from technology. Harvard Business School Press.
Clayton, M., Beck, J., & Sharma, V. (2018). Funding innovation in higher education: Challenges and strategic responses. Journal of Higher Education Policy and Management, 40(5), 421–437.
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2021). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dehghan, M. (2021). The role of entrepreneurial orientation in strategic agility of public organizations. Public Administration Quarterly, 45(2), 127–149.
Delgado, A. F. (2017). Outcome switching in randomized controlled oncology trials reporting on surrogate endpoints: A cross-sectional analysis. Scientific Reports, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-09553-y
Economic Planning Unit. (2021). Twelfth Malaysia Plan 2021–2025: A prosperous, inclusive, sustainable Malaysia. Prime Minister’s Department, Putrajaya, Malaysia.
Eidlisz, J., von Simson, I., & Gold-von Simson, G. (2024). Exploring the current state of technology transfer in the United States: Perspectives and improvement strategies from the experts. Frontiers in Research Metrics and Analytics, 9. https://doi.org/10.3389/frma.2024.1376185
Emami, A., Moradi, M., & Dana, L. P. (2022). Strategic alliances in university–industry collaboration: A value-creation perspective. Journal of Business Research, 147, 312–323.
Fegada, A. (2024). The significance of innovation orientation in firm performance: Technological capabilities as a moderating role. European Scientific Journal, 20(10), 16. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2024.v20n10p16
Fernandez-Alles, M., Gutierrez-Gutierrez, L., & Martines, M. (2019). Building entrepreneurship within public universities: The role of academic project leaders. Journal of Technology Transfer, 44(3), 686–706.
Fernandes, C. R., & Machado, A. G. C. (2019). Technology transfer capability: Development dynamics in higher-education institutions. Brazilian Business Review, 16(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.15728/bbr.2019.16.1.1
Ferreira, J., & Franco, M. (2019). The role of strategic alliances in technology commercialization: Evidence from university spin-offs. International Journal of Technology Management, 81(1), 32–49.
Ferreira, J. J. (2021). Determinants of the technology transfer process in universities: A resource-based-view perspective. Journal of Knowledge Management, 25(9), 2107–2133.
Fini, R. (2018). Rethinking the commercialization of academic research: A multiple-stakeholder approach. Small Business Economics, 50(2), 185–201.
Findik, D. (2018). University–industry collaborations and the role of formal partnership agreements. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 134, 1–10.
Fransisca, T., & Soelaiman, L. (2023). The effect of entrepreneurial orientation and market orientation on Jakarta’s culinary business performance. International Journal of Application on Economics and Business, 1(3), 1503–1511. https://doi.org/10.24912/ijaeb.v1i3.1503-1511
Fu, Y., Liu, W., Wang, Y., & Lee, Y. (2024). Entrepreneurial orientation and open innovation performance: The moderating role of organizational learning. Journal of Business Research, 172, 114224.
Galera-Zarco, C., Del-Carmen, A., & Rueda-Manzanares, A. (2020). Understanding strategic-alliance performance through the lens of dynamic capabilities. Management Decision, 58(5), 987–1002.
Heaton, S., Siegel, D. S., & Teece, D. J. (2019). Universities and innovation ecosystems: A dynamic-capabilities perspective. Industrial and Corporate Change, 28(4), 921–939. https://doi.org/10.1093/icc/dtz038
Huggins, R., Prokop, D., & Thompson, P. (2019). Universities and open innovation: The determinants of network centrality. Journal of Technology Transfer, 45(3), 718–757. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-019-09720-5
Jamil, R. (2024). Commercialisation of academic research in Malaysia: Trends, barriers, and strategies. Asian Journal of Business and Management, 12(1), 1–14.
Jaakkola, E. (2020). Designing conceptual articles: Four approaches. AMS Review, 10(1–2), 18–26. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0
Karanikic, P. (2022). Challenges of financing technology-transfer activities in developing economies. International Journal of Innovation Science, 14(2), 144–160.
Khan, S. H., Majid, A., Yasir, M., & Javed, A. (2021). Social capital and business-model innovation in SMEs: Do organizational-learning capabilities and entrepreneurial orientation really matter? European Journal of Innovation Management, 24(1), 191–212. https://doi.org/10.1108/EJIM-04-2020-0143
Kimiagari, S., Keivanpour, S., Al-Azad, S., & Mohiuddin, M. (2015). Using the fuzzy Delphi method to apply a model of knowledge transfer through international strategic alliances in upstream oil and gas sectors. Contemporary Management Research, 11(4). https://doi.org/10.7903/cmr.13183
Kohli, A. K., & Jaworski, B. J. (1990). Market orientation: The construct, research propositions, and managerial implications. Journal of Marketing, 54(2), 1–18.
MacInnis, D. J. (2011). A framework for conceptual contributions in marketing. Journal of Marketing, 75(4), 136–154.
Ma, Y., & Xi, Y. (2023). Leveraging industry partnerships for effective technology commercialization: A framework for technology transfer offices. Journal of Technology Transfer, 48(1), 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-022-09999-9
Martinez-Climent, C., Zorio-Grima, A., & Ribeiro-Soriano, D. (2019). Financial resources for social entrepreneurship: A dynamic-capabilities approach. Sustainability, 11(3), 698.
Mulda, J. (2020). Entrepreneurial traits and collaborative capabilities in university–industry technology transfer. Journal of Technology Management and Innovation, 15(2), 45–61.
Nakos, G., Dimitratos, P., & Elbanna, S. (2019). The mediating role of alliances in the international entrepreneurial orientation–performance relationship. International Business Review, 28(1), 109–120.
Nkurunziza, G., Obedgiu, V., & Kamacoko, O. (2022). The mediating role of stakeholder engagement on the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and agricultural-project performance in developing countries. ORSEA Journal, 12(2), 75–89. https://doi.org/10.56279/orseaj.v12i2.5
Onetti, A. (2019). Turning open innovation into practice: Trends in European corporates. Journal of Business Strategy, 42(1), 51–58. https://doi.org/10.1108/jbs-07-2019-0138
Perez, L., Sanchez, M., & Jara, M. (2021). How collaborative capabilities and relational capital affect technology-transfer performance. Technovation, 106, 102289.
Phalswal, S., Bhardwaj, R., Sahay, A., & Akbar, M. A. (2024). Dynamic capabilities of environmentally sustainable enterprises: An exploratory study. South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, 13(2), 148–165. https://doi.org/10.1177/22779779241262466
Pitsakis, K., & Giachetti, C. (2019). Information-based imitation of university commercialization strategies: The role of technology transfer office autonomy, age, and membership in an association. Strategic Organization, 18(4), 573–616. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476127019850098
Polasko, K., Ponce, P., & Molina, A. (2021). An income model using historical data, power-law distributions, and Monte Carlo method for university technology transfer offices. Future Internet, 13(5), 122. https://doi.org/10.3390/fi13050122
Pronay, S., Czegledi, C., & Buzas, N. (2021). Technology transfer and commercialization in Central and Eastern European universities: A resource-based perspective. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 166, 120628.
Pujianto, P., & Tannady, H. (2023). Market orientation and innovation success in Indonesian university technology centers. Asian Journal of Technology Innovation, 31(1), 78–94.
Ramachandran, R. (2022). Technology transfer in Malaysia: Challenges and strategies. ASEAN Innovation Journal, 4(1), 22–34.
Radziwon, A., & Bogers, M. (2019). Open innovation in SMEs: Exploring inter-organizational relationships in an ecosystem. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 146, 573–587. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2018.04.021
Rodriguez-Gonzalez, A. (2021). Strategic factors influencing technology commercialization in higher-education institutions. Journal of Technology Transfer, 46(5), 1429–1450.
Rondeau, F., Narayanan, V. K., & Park, K. (2022). Funding mechanisms for early-stage commercialization: Global patterns and local constraints. Technovation, 117, 102257.
Roszkowska-Menkes, M. (2018). Integrating strategic CSR and open innovation: Towards a conceptual framework. Social Responsibility Journal, 14(4), 950–966
Azami, N., & Muharam, F. M. (2025). Enhancing Technology Commercialization Capabilities in Non-Profit TTOS Using Market Orientation, Funding and Strategic Alliances and Entrepreneurial Orientation of Project Manager. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(10), 842–860.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
