Universities and the generation of impact: the role of university foundations in knowledge transfer

Framing of the research. The paper explores the role of the University Foundations (UFs) in the knowledge transfer activities of the Italian universities, as one of the possible organizational solutions for academic-industrial collaborations. Purpose of the paper. The work examines the UFs under an organisational and strategic perspective through the analysis of those organizations that have been designed to generate impact within a third mission framework. Methodology. We conducted a multiple-case study as exploratory research approach, interviewing the employees of three different Italian UFs. Furthermore, we ran a thematic analysis on the transcripts to inductively code our data and to identify significant relationships between emerging themes and existing literature. Results. The paper sheds light on the role that the Italian UFs play in bridging the gap between university and industry with a specific focus on their activities, employees, strategies, and relationships. Acting as an intermediation structure for knowledge transfer activities, they represent a simplified entry point to the universities’ assets by scouting opportunities and catalysing the innovation processes. Research limitations. The research explores the UFs under a small sample of cases. However, this work represents just a preliminary effort toward the exploration of the phenomenon. These limits can provide avenues for future research. Practical implications. The paper contributes to the literature on knowledge transfer and intermediary organization by analysing the specific case of the UFs. Originality of the paper. The work address for the first time the UFs not only under the legislative lens of investigation but also under the strategic and the managerial ones. There are no prior studies focused on understanding this organizational phenomenon under these perspectives.