This document discusses mapping the impacts of social and organizational research. It notes that this type of academic research produces non-patentable knowledge with potential uses for policymakers, businesses, communities and the public. It also explores various pathways for knowledge transfer beyond traditional technology transfer like publishing, teaching, consulting and networking. The document addresses challenges in comprehensively measuring these impacts and proposes examining non-commercial knowledge transfer and qualitative benefits.

1. Mapping impacts of
social and
organizational
research
Anne Mesny – HEC Montréal
Atelier sur le rôle des BLEU dans le transfert de
l’innovation sociale – 24 février 2012 – HEC Montréal

2. Academic knowledge/ research results in
social and organization sciences
 Multiple types of research products:
non-patentable knowledge
 Large portion of ‘non-esoteric’
knowledge;
 Conceptual uses (rather than
instrumental only);
 Multiple potential ‘users’: policy-
makers; economic
actors, communities, lay people;
 Collaborative research between
researcher and ‘subjects' / users.
A. Mesny – USAGE - 24 février 2012 – HEC Montréal 2

3. Pathways of knowledge mobilization/ transfer
Tech transfer:
Patents
Licencing Teaching
Spin-offs Publications (academic
and non academic)
Contract Collaborative research
research Networking activities
Consulting Engaged scholarship
Executive (unpaid academic
development consulting, etc.)
Commercial Non commercial
A. Mesny – USAGE - 24 février 2012 – HEC Montréal 3

4. Patenting & licensing activities
1. “Only a small fraction of the
innovative knowledge that is
transferred out of universities;
2. Do not reflect directly the broader
social or economic value stemming
from university research;
3. May impede rather than facilitate
the dissemination of university
technological knowledge.”
(Bercovitz & James, 2009, p. 8)
A. Mesny – USAGE - 24 février 2012 – HEC Montréal 4

5. Measuring impacts: wrong trade-off
Comprehensiveness
Truthfulness
Tractability
Quantification
A. Mesny – USAGE - 24 février 2012 – HEC Montréal 5

6. Measuring impacts : 3 issues
(D. Baker, CASRAI)
1. Capturing impacts (direct
and derived;
capacity, productivity &
societal)
2. Linking impact to people
and activity
3. Attributing impact to
investment
A. Mesny – USAGE - 24 février 2012 – HEC Montréal 6

7. Measuring impacts: directions
Non-patenting / non-licensing
activities;
Non commercial knowledge transfer;
Qualitative benefits.
A. Mesny – USAGE - 24 février 2012 – HEC Montréal 7

8. New directions in the valuation of
university entrepreneurship
(Bercovitz & James, 2009, pp. 16-18)
1. Expand the transfer mechanisms
tracked;
2. Move beyond simple counts to
clarify links;
3. Extend the time periods for
which the transfer activities are
followed;
4. Promote the estimation and/or
measurement of social value.
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9. Avenues for TTOs
1. Clarify how tech transfer fits in ‘the big
picture’ of knowledge mobilization;
2. Take distance from the ‘hard core’
view of ‘university entrepreneurship’;
3. Expose/ trace indirect impacts of
licencing activities on other transfer
mechanisms (commercial and non-
commercial);
4. Explore alternative forms of tech
transfer (open source channels, etc.).
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10. Questions, comments...
Thank you!
http://expertise.hec.ca/usage/
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