University-Industry interactions in the Sultanate of Oman
Dr Costas Chryssou
Feb 14, 2022
tamegon Innovation and Growth Advisory Firm
I recently published a paper in the Journal of Industry and Higher Education, studying University-Industry (U-I) interactions in Oman and I thought to share some of its findings that could be of interest to researchers, policy makers and all innovation actors (industry, universities, and intermediary organisations).
The study is based on a qualitative review of published higher education institute (HEI) quality audit reports and on two questionnaire surveys sent to HEIs and industry. It is suggested that Oman’s innovation system is currently based on the ‘statist’ Triple Helix (TH) model of innovation with some initiatives taking place to transition it towards the ‘integrated’ TH model. The results show that U–I interactions are mainly education-related, with limited emphasis on research and commercialisation activities. Barriers to U-I interactions identified include initiation and awareness constraints, limited funding, internal organisational culture and structure and industry’s limited absorptive capacity.
Some conclusions that can be drawn from this study include the following
- U–I collaborations in developing and transitioning environments cannot be sustainable and successful if some interconnected elements of the innovation ecosystem are absent. On a basic level, these prerequisites include, on one hand, the existence of HEIs that are appropriately funded, with academic staff who are incentivised to undertake research and equipped with suitable research facilities, and, on the other hand, the existence of industry with adequate absorptive capacity to make use of the results of joint activities, in addition to incentives for both parties to collaborate and the means to coherently communicate.
- The existence of policies (establishing and formalising IP rights), structures (intermediary organisations acting as the bridge between the innovation actors) and frameworks determines the breadth of these collaborations and ultimately their success.
Based on the study, several interventions could be considered by policymakers to stimulate collaboration between industry and HEIs in Oman where they currently do not exist and to enhance the frequency, quality and breadth of interactions already practised.
- Considering the low percentage of GDP investment in R&D in Oman and existing constraints in human capital, investment in applied research areas that government, national and regional markets have identified as priorities is essential, with the business sector involved in a co-funding capacity; such collaborations will enable the re-purposing of HEIs from teaching and research to drivers of economic development and will further enable the transition of the TH innovation model of the country towards the ‘integrated’ model.
- Policymakers in Oman could consider the establishment of dedicated U–I liaison units in HEIs; Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) in universities have become a widespread mechanism for assisting researchers in establishing links with industry and for the protection and commercialisation of their IP. To achieve critical mass and broader representation, many developed and developing countries have chosen to develop joint TTOs for groups of HEIs in the same region or that specialise in similar fields.
- To address cultural barriers, and to further strengthen participation in U–I engagement projects, measures to reward academic staff for developing industry links, such as income from academic consulting and patent licensing as well as participation in spin-offs and start-ups can be considered.
The establishment of U–I liaison units by HEIs and strengthening of the existing intermediary organisations, such as business incubators already established in Oman, will further bridge the gap between industry and academia and enable the diffusion and use of technology and knowledge in the economy.
The link to the article can be found at https://doi.org/10.1177/0950422219896748
Costas Chryssou
MBA, PhD
Founder and Managing Director
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