Overview of Historical Development of University-Industry relationship

About historical developments of universities, researchers are cautious to identify few

substantial changes that are named as academic revolutions. The first academic revolution took
place when the professional character of higher education became prevalent in the late 19th
century as the world moved into the industrial era .universities began to offer professional-
oriented programs in the fields of engineering and agriculture (Slaughter and Leslie, 1997).

In the U.K., Cambridge University emerged as one of the first scientific research centers
that were active in spinning out, technologies and in stimulating the exploitation of intellectual
property through the formation of companies and the licensing of inventions (Maeyer-Krahmer
and Schmoch, 1998).

In the mid-nineteenth century, the German government allocated significant resource to

universities promoting research aimed at national development and in industrialization .This was
the first time that research became an integral function of the university, American reformers
took these German innovations and further transformed higher education by stressing the
relationship between the university and society through the concept of service and direct links
industry and agriculture (Meyer-Krahmer and Schmoch, 1998).

Postsecondary education has expanded since World War II .This time period is marked
by the emergence of faculty-formed firms and interdisciplinary research centres which indicates
a shift from informal, subtle individual contract initiatives to longer term, strategic, multi-million
dollar collaborations (Etkowitz et al, 1998).
 The 1950 and 1960 were significant in that it signalled a shift in university administration
tradition towards increased adoption of managerially .In the 1970s and 1980s, all types of post-
secondary educational institutions, became involved in various type of collaborative relations .In
the early 1980, technology transfer to industry became a priority in western universities, This
resulted in an increased number of newly established transfer-oriented support units such as
technology transfer offices at universities, technology centers and science parks. (Leydesdroff
and Guoping, 2001).

In the 1990s, all nations regardless of their developmental histories have formulated
innovation strategies based upon the intentional expansion of university- industry relations. As a
result, establishment of mutually beneficial collaborative relationships with strategic partners and
engagement in more entrepreneurial activities are perceived to be popular measures that function
adequately in these circumstances (Etkowit and Leydesdorff, 1997). (bita, page8)