Science Research Management ›› 2022, Vol. 43 ›› Issue (3): 164-172.

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Research on the impact of laboratory validation on technology transfer: A study from the perspective of ambidextrous learning

Wu Pengfei, Lin Jun   

  1. School of Economics and Management, Xi′an University of Technology, Xi′an 710054, Shaanxi, China
  • Received:2021-03-10 Revised:2021-08-17 Online:2022-03-20 Published:2022-03-16

Abstract:     In recent years, the total number of patent applications and authorized patents in China has been firmly in the forefront of the world, but these scientific and technological innovation achievements have not been well applied, the transformation and application of these patent achievements is less than 10%, these data show that the transformation level of our scientific and technological achievements is still not satisfactory.  Existing research results that the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements of laboratory validation process can be divided into the laboratory and industrial scale test and commercial scale three phases, demonstration laboratory validation is connected to the basic research and applied research first hub, in the stage of laboratory verification technology has a great deal of uncertainty and risk, there is a big enough learning space. Through the experimental verification of new technologies, the "new" scientific knowledge is acquired, and the availability of basic knowledge is continuously expanded and extended to reduce the uncertainty of technology application and reduce technical risks. Through continuous testing and experiment in the laboratory, eliminate some unworkable technology, optimize the process flow, interactive learning, continuous iteration, the formation of technology prototype and produce results so that the new technology can be more suitable for industrial manufacturing. At the same time, laboratories need a large amount of resources to maintain their validation activities, so sufficient policy support will provide a strong guarantee for the effectiveness of laboratory validation. Therefore, this paper aims to clarify the relationship between ambidextrous learning, laboratory validation effectiveness and technology transfer, and explore the regulatory role of government science and technology support in it, so as to improve the effectiveness of laboratory validation at the front end of scientific and technological achievement transformation, and promote technology transfer and achievement transformation. Based on all above, the main contents of this paper are as follows.First of all, based on theoretical review and analysis, the relationship between ambidextrous learning, laboratory validation effectiveness, technology transfer, government scientific and technological support and the variables are summarized and integrated, the emergence of the concept of ambidextrous learning is reviewed, and the connotation and relationship of the two kinds of learning are further elaborated. Secondly, the connotation of the new variable of laboratory validation validity and the existing research were understood, and its composition dimension and measurement method were defined. Third, grasp the current research results on technology transfer and effectively measure them. Finally, sort out the relevant research on government science and technology support in the process of transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and explore the connotation and role of government science and technology policy support. It is suggested that there may be some relationship among the variables of ambidextrous learning, laboratory validation effectiveness, technology transfer and government support.Secondly, combined with the research topic of this paper, based on the systematic review of literature related to ambidextrous learning, laboratory validation effectiveness, technology transfer and government science and technology support, the theoretical framework of laboratory validation effectiveness driving technology transfer is established through logical deduction, and the hypothesis testing model is constructed. The model includes the impact of ambidextrous learning on technology transfer, the impact of ambidextrous learning on the effectiveness of laboratory validation, the effect of laboratory validation on technology transfer, the mediating effect of laboratory validation, and the moderating effect of government science and technology support. A total of 325 questionnaires were obtained through online and offline questionnaires, and 248 valid research data were obtained after the invalid questionnaires that did not meet the research requirements were deleted. To confirm whether the scale structure is the same as expected, the reliability and validity of the obtained sample data need to be tested.  The findings met the requirements of the study.Finally, SPSS software was used to analyze and process the large sample data to verify the research hypothesis. The results show that ambidextrous learning has a significant positive effect on technology transfer; The relationship between exploratory learning and technology transfer was partially mediated by laboratory research (R) performance. The relationship between exploitative learning and technology transfer was partially mediated by laboratory development (D) performance. Government support for science and technology positively moderates the support strength of laboratory verification for technology transfer. The results of post hoc analysis show that there are differences in the effect of laboratory verification and technology transfer between enterprises and universities.

Key words: laboratory research performance, laboratory development performance, ambidextrous learning, technology transfer, government S&T support