The purpose of this study is to understand the role and status of Indian university-affiliated technology business incubators (TBIs) in translating higher education institution (HEI) patents and barriers to the successful functioning of TBIs at the institutional level (TBI) through the lenses of resource-based view and contingency theories using a mixed-method approach.
The study was planned in a qualitative (mixed method) approach, using a validated semi-structured questionnaire with multiple choices, open-ended and Likert scale items. Data was collected using a Google survey form, telephonic or in-person interviews with incubation/programme managers/CEOs/COOs/top management of the incubation centres, who are directly involved in the incubation centres’ technical and operational activities. TBIs affiliated to either academic or non-academic institutions, private independent or central, and state government supported across different states in India were included. Quantitative data analysis with Excel spreadsheet and Tableau Public was carried out.
The authors found that only 2.5% of all Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade-registered active start-ups are backed by patent-based inventions and supported by TBIs. Though the variables like the speed of technology to market, regulatory barriers of patented inventions and useful life of patents impact the translation of patents, lack of specific supportive post-grant funding schemes for post-grant validations from lab scale to industrial scale, inadequate structural capital, incentives to inventors and top management focus at HEIs are becoming prime reasons crippling the innovation ecosystem. The efficiency of TBIs in India might be increased by realigning its operational and administrative procedures and investing in capacity building. It largely depends on revamping the research assessment practices used by HEI to encourage its intellectual capital.
Innovation is the key to promoting knowledge-based economies, with HEIs and TBIs being the catalysts for creating an innovation ecosystem. A well-organized structural capital of HEI with TBI, an intellectual property cell and a technology transfer office can efficiently assimilate the R&D output (publications and patents) supported by public funds. India has seen a rapid increase in the number of TBIs due to government initiatives like Startup India, Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), DST-NIDHI, and others. However, many incubators are relatively new and are still building their infrastructure, support systems, and networks. Hence, all TBIs are not included. University/HEI-affiliated TBIs are considered as inclusion criteria. As the sample size considered for the study is less, results can not be generalized to entire population.
The efficiency of TBIs in India might be increased by realigning its operational and administrative procedures and investing in capacity building. It largely depends on revamping the research assessment practices used by HEI to encourage its intellectual capital.
To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to systematically examine the barriers affecting the efficiency of TBIs in India. Using mixed-method approach, it identifies key challenges such as funding gaps, policy misalignment and limited capacity building. The findings offer a unique evidence base to inform policy and institutional reforms for the efficient functioning of TBIs in India.
