External technology commercialization: policy guidelines

An analysis of the literature on external technology commercialization gives evidence to a deficit regarding a sound theory underlying this activity. This deficit of theory can be seen on the one side as a lack of categories regarding the objectives which cause firms to engage in external technology commercialization. Even worse, despite some general guidelines-some do´s and don´ts regarding the selling of technology-there are no rules built on a sound economic theory when companies should or even have to engage in external technology commercialization activities. This paper discusses the factors to consider in external technology commercialisation and technology transfer