The Role of Technology Centers as Intermediary Organizations Facilitating Links for Innovation: Four Cases of Federal Technology Centers in Mexico

Abstract

This article presents a review of the discussion and debate around the intermediation functions carried out by technology centers (TCs), considered key organizations in the dynamics of national innovation processes based on collaboration between actors. I discuss the organizational roles and R&D strategies assumed by four Mexican TCs within the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) in order to encourage productive cooperation based on technology transfer and knowledge transfer. Grounded on this empirical referent, the present study analyzes critical structural factors in terms of organizational governance schemes, connections with regional innovation dynamics, and the national science-industry cooperation strategies behind the configuration of the analyzed TCs, which have determined their organizational action profiles.

Open Innovation and Innovation Intermediaries in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…This research departs from the typologies developed by Howells [28] and Stezano [31] to establish a general profile of the SGCs in our sample countries. This landscape is relevant in illustrating the feasibility of the successful implementation of STI policy instruments, such as PPPs in RI, in the region.…”

“…The variety of innovation intermediaries, their roles, and their organizational modes have been explored by authors, such as Bessant and Rush [27], Howells [28], and Landry et al [29], among others. Although different authors have coined different terms for them, from bridges [27], consultants, and brokers [30] to technology centers and public science-based or research organizations [31][32][33][34], this research adopts the term 'innovation intermediaries' to describe the entire range of organizations that play this role. Adopting Howells' [28] definition, this study understands an innovation intermediary to be:…”

“…Although most studies in the literature focus on universities and their linkages to the private sector [62,63], very few address national research ministries, councils, SGCs, and public technology centers as innovation intermediaries [27,31,64], even though they are recognized as key actors in influencing the policy landscape governing national innovation systems. With regard to technology centers, studies tend to focus more on their intermediation functions and their organizational profiles and less on their research strategies and linkages with the private sector [27].…”

“…With regard to technology centers, studies tend to focus more on their intermediation functions and their organizational profiles and less on their research strategies and linkages with the private sector [27]. Along this line, Stezano [31], in his analysis of four public technology centers as innovation intermediaries, classified them according to: (i) Their market orientation adjusted to clients' STI needs, which ranged from basic science approaches more in line with the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to formal R&D targeting larger firms; (ii) the type of STI service provided (i.e., exploration, technical validation, or commercialization); (iii) the type of firm with whom the interactions took place; and (iv) the price-setting of the STI services provided.…”

“…The role or function of the innovation intermediaries is primarily to act as connectors between the policy and operational levels, influencing other actors in the innovation system [64]. The organizational management of STI organizations as innovation intermediaries is defined in the literature according to their impact, via the scientific production of primary and executive research, interpretation and analysis, human resources training, business, and consultancy contacts, or collaboration with other knowledge sectors [31,65,66]. They also play an important role in connecting societal challenges with the relevant policy and regulatory frameworks by identifying operational and research needs.…”