The Value of Technology Transfer on the Development of Entrepreneurship Capabilities: A Study of the Educational Technology Industry in Hong Kong

Technology transfer, also known as knowledge transfer or knowledge exchange, is an integral mission of universities, supplementing their core functions of teaching, learning, and research. Each of the eight publicly funded universities in Hong Kong has set up Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) to streamline this process. TTOs are vital for managing intellectual property, commercializing technology, and fostering entrepreneurship. Universities aim to enhance their TTOs' efficiency to transform research and development investments into tangible societal benefits, contributing to economic growth and entrepreneurship. Educational Technology (EdTech) is a rapidly growing market, driven further by technological advancements and the impacts of COVID-19. This sector sees a surge in technology-based startups focusing on educational applications, and educators are increasingly launching commercial or social enterprises to address teaching and learning challenges. EdTech uniquely combines technological inventions with pedagogical innovations to create new educational tools. This study explores how entrepreneurs in the EdTech startup sector build technology value, educational value, and social networks, which constitute their knowledge capital and support their entrepreneurial capabilities. The study's findings affirm that both formal and informal technology transfer and entrepreneurship development activities within universities positively impact the knowledge capital of EdTech startups, enhancing their innovativeness, entrepreneurial attitudes, and cocreation abilities. Educational value significantly influences entrepreneurial capability. Although absorptive capability positively impacts entrepreneurial capability, its moderating role between knowledge capital and entrepreneurial capability is insignificant. These findings offer managerial implications for university technology transfer activities and EdTech startups in Hong Kong. The model and findings can be adapted to other technology sectors like SportsTech, HealthTech, FemaleTech, and ArtTech, suggesting a versatile framework for understanding technology transfer and entrepreneurship in various specialised domains.

Name dc:type.qualificationname

dba

Level dc:type.qualificationlevel

doctoral

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Year dc:date.issued

2024

Author dc:creator

• Kwan, Hok Ming

• HB Damcaniaeth Economaidd
• LB2300 Addysg Uwch
• T Technoleg (Cyffredinol)

Dc Identifier Grantnumber

UWTSD

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.uwtsd.ac.uk:3194