Knowledge transfer to high-tech sector organizations: factors, problems and prospects

Rapid development and introduction of new technologies, their continuous complication and updating reinforce the need for real economy entities, especially high-tech ones, to acquire new knowledge. Innovative solutions are based on knowledge to ensure the growth of the company’s income (Andreevskii et al., 2019). Without obtaining advanced knowledge, it is impossible to develop new technologies that ensure the competitiveness of modern high-tech organizations. Thus, enterprises are interested in expanding the channels through which new progressive knowledge can flow.

A number of studies have shown that knowledge transferred from universities is not always used by enterprises (Abreu et al., 2008), however, the value of interaction between the real sector and universities in this area is emphasized (Gitel’man et al., 2020; De Silva et al., 2023). The development of such interaction is the object of increased attention from both researchers and practitioners who manage human capital and knowledge at the enterprise as its component part. The interest of managers is due to the understanding of the importance of knowledge in increasing the competitiveness and profitability of the organization (Orlova, 2021), the need for continuous development of human capital in the conditions of turbulence of the socio-economic environment and the complexity of the scientific and technical sphere.

The scientific literature is increasingly discussing ways and factors to strengthen the interaction of enterprises with universities. It is emphasized that the amount of funds for financing R&D at universities, their territorial proximity, state stimulation of the development of various channels of interconnection, etc. have a great influence (Brunel et al., 2015; Azagra-Caro et al., 2017). At the same time, the possibilities of enterprises themselves to expand and strengthen cooperation with universities in order to obtain new knowledge require more in-depth research. Studying drivers and opportunities of enterprises for the development of cooperation and strengthening of interaction with the academic sector will allow working out a strategy that promotes the development of human capital and knowledge, increasing the efficiency of their use.

The purpose of the research is to identify priority factors affecting the acquisition of new knowledge by an enterprise through their transfer from the academic sector.

Research methods

This study is based on the provisions of the resource approach (Kat’kalo, 2006), in which knowledge is a source of formation of the organization’s competitive advantage (Barney, 1991; Zavyalova et al., 2017). According to the knowledge-based approach (Kogut, Zander, 1992), obtaining knowledge from the outside and using it contributes to increased labor productivity and lower transaction costs (De Silva, Rossi, 2018).

Knowledge transfer between organizations is a complex phenomenon characterized by many factors. In this regard, we consider the knowledge transfer from the positions of several approaches. In particular, we used the provisions of the project approach (Thiel, 2002), emphasizing the focus of knowledge transfer on results; the process approach (Meng et al., 2019; Szulanski, 2000), representing knowledge transfer as a process, and the provisions of the network approach (Hansen, 2002; Sun et al., 2019), characterizing the factors affecting the interrelationships of knowledge transfer participants.

We preceded the empirical study by literature analysis, as a result of which we identified the key factors influencing knowledge transfer. The empirical basis was the survey results of employees of a large machine-building enterprise (Rostov-on-Don). The survey conducted in April – May 2023 made it possible to assess the impact of various factors on knowledge transfer from the academic sector. As respondents, we involved two categories of employees: highly qualified specialists (engineers) and managers (heads of departments, workshops, bureaus) – 53 and 47%, respectively. The choice of groups is due to the fact that the activities of these employees are more associated with obtaining new knowledge in the process of solving professional tasks.

Based on the survey results, we carried out a correlation and regression analysis, which allows establishing the actual relationship between the factors characterizing the key parameters of knowledge transfer from the academic environment.

The results obtained make it possible to form an idea of the specifics of the knowledge transfer, received by the enterprise from the academic environment, and to identify reserves for improving its efficiency.

We carried out the systematization of the survey data and their visualization in Microsoft Office Excel spreadsheets.