Analysis of the relative effectiveness of technology transfer offices operating in Turkey within the scope of public-university-industry cooperation by DEA method

The acquisition, adoption, adaptation, development and dissemination of knowledge-based technology constitute the most important pillar of a country's economy. In order to implement these processes, R&D and innovation-based activities should be increased and awareness should be created. In this context, with the adoption of the Technology Development Zones Law in 2001 in Türkiye, various government support began to be provided. However, the most important triple helix of ensuring technology transfer has been public university and industry cooperation. The units aiming to manage this cooperation in a qualified manner were TTO's. TTO's started to become widespread in Türkiye after 2012 with the "Technology Transfer Offices Support Program" of TÜBİTAK numbered 1513. The main activities of TTO's are to serve many purposes and duties such as academic entrepreneurship, commercialization of innovative knowledge, being an intermediary between the university and the industrialist, carrying out various training and seminar activities, and ensuring the protection of intellectual and industrial rights. In this study, it is aimed to measure how effectively the TTO's operating in these activities carry out. For the purpose of the study, Data Envelopment Analysis, which is one of the frequently used methods in efficacy measurement analysis in the literature, was used. The VZA method, which is based on linear programming, is also a statistical method that allows non-parametric, that is, subjective evaluation. In the study, the efficacy value was determined as 1. Decision-making units that received a value of 1 were counted as active. At the same time, the improvement rates of the inactive units were evaluated with reference to the active units. Output-oriented CCR and output-oriented BCC models were used to measure the relative efficacy of TTO's by VZA method. According to the results of the output-oriented CCR model; Of the 13 TTO's analyzed, 4 TTO's were determined to be effective. In the BCC model, 5 TTO's out of 9 TTO's were measured as effective without including the active TTO's. According to the results obtained, improvement rates were evaluated and suggestions were presented for more TTO's to be effective. According to the results of the data envelopment analysis, in order for more TTO's to continue their activities effectively; Budgeting for R&D expenditures should be done by experts. At the same time, benefiting from public incentives will be beneficial in this context. It is also necessary to eliminate the problems in legal regulations regarding TTO's. In this context, regularity of entrepreneurship, training and programs will enable the awareness of academics and other people with an entrepreneurial spirit, especially those who want to establish a company. Again, reducing the bureaucratic workload of TTO's and employing qualified personnel will also provide benefits for TTO's to maintain an effective activity.