TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND ACADEMIA-INDUSTRY LINKAGES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: CASE OF PAKISTAN

Technological innovations are altering the business operations and structural framework of industries across the globe. In this regard, academia-industry linkage has played a significant role in strengthening the industrial sector in west. Observing the success of west based on academic commercialization, there is extensive emphasis on academia-industry linkage in other countries all over the world. China, India, Malaysia are among those Asian countries that are striving hard to make effective academia-industry linkages. Pakistan like other South Asian countries is far behind in filling this gap of academia-industry linkage as technology transfer is possible through strong academia industrial linkage. Innovation and technology developments in universities contribute for the welfare of nations. Industries like Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals and Information Technology can excel through academic commercialization and gain insight of technological innovations. The study revealed different aspects of university industry linkages. Industrialists and academicians have taken part in the study through structured focus group strategy and suggested a framework to build strong and effective academia-industry relationship