Women Scientists in Knowledge Transfer: A Critical Review of Policy Measures, Propensities and Indicators

Entrepreneurship has grown to become an important research domain as well as policy instrument for economic development, renewal of the industries and as a remedy for unemployment. By the same token commercialization of... [ view full abstract ]

Entrepreneurship has grown to become an important research domain as well as policy instrument for economic development, renewal of the industries and as a remedy for unemployment. By the same token commercialization of academic research results via university start-ups have been promoted by the policy makers and university administrators under the broad mandate of “third mission for scientists”.

Women face different life cycle demands. Some research shows that while men are motivated more by financial success and innovation than women. Women may view entrepreneurship as a way to handle the challenges faced in traditional, rigid working conditions and to have greater flexibility, to control their work schedule and to gain control of their career advancement.

Departing from these point of views we review and discuss the limitations of the policy measures for promoting women to be involved in technology transfer, tendencies among women scientists towards commercial acts as well as indicators for measuring women scientists commercial activities. We then add to this discussion an analysis of “women scientists’ attraction-interest to start up their business in relation to their technology transfer activities” and the extent to which women’s perceptions affect their behaviors and decisions with regard to entrepreneurship.