Abstract
Successful commercialization of Research & Development (R&D) project means that the research is successfully completed and the economic return starts to be realized from the R&D result, its deliverables adopted and commercialized in the industry. This study examines from R&D technologist and industry user’s perspective, the determinant of Innovation & Technology Fund (ITF) R&D technology commercialization in Hong Kong’s Logistics and Supply Chain Industry. R&D technologists always need to question whether the technology they develop matches industry needs. This study investigates how R&D technologists can better align their efforts with the industry needs during the development process. This is a multi-perspective study from idea generation, R&D to eventual technology implementation and adoption by industry.In a previous study by LSCM R&D Centre (2009) report, participating R&D technologists, logistics and supply chain industry experts, and industry users of Hong Kong agreed that a systematic management approach can help to enhance the commercialization of ITF R&D projects. This research aims to study the critical issues affecting R&D technology transfer in Hong Kong’s Logistics and Supply Chain Industry. R&D technologists always face the dilemma of technology they work hard to develop is not adopted or being adopted by only few companies. This research is expected to develop a novel R&D project management model, named as MSTAM model (Market, Science, Technology, Application and Market), for enhancing the rate of commercialization opportunity of ITF R&D project to the industry. From the result of its pilot implementation in ITF project, an MSTAM roadmap and handbook (as the user guide) is developed.
The development and implementation of the MSTAM model is carried out in five phases. First, the challenge of ITF R&D project commercialization and problem statement is defined. Through the literature review, historical data of ITF projects and current operation mechanism are defined; the key issues and barriers of commercialization of ITF R&D project in Hong Kong’s Logistics and Supply Chain Industry are identified. Secondly, the ITF R&D ecosystem is studied to classify the key players in the ITF R&D project to facilitate subsequent survey design and data collection. Following the survey results, the conceptual model, MSTAM and associated elements, factors are developed. Thirdly, by comprehensive analyses of R&D technologists and industry users concerns and comments received from the in-depth interview, quantitative and qualitative surveys are carried out. The findings indicated that the proposed MSTAM model, and its associated elements, and controlling factors are feasible. Fourthly, an ITF project has been selected to pilot test the proposed MSTAM model. This is a robotic automation ITF project of seed research programme. The seed research programme is a foundation of ITF R&D projects which are exploratory new technology concept and provide the technology foundation for future applied to another R&D projects such as platform research programme, collaborative research programme, and Public Sector Trial Scheme (PSTS) programme. This pilot implementation has five phases, (1) Phase 1: Market (Industrial Need); (2) Phase 2: Science (Research & Development); (3) Phase 3: Technology (Product Exploration); (4) Phase 4: Application (Technology Implementation); and (5) Phase 5: Market (Commercialization). The gap analysis between each phase is carried out. The results find back to the MSTAM model implementation to keep the ITF project on its track of eventual commercialization. Lastly, a handbook of MSTAM based ITF project management is developed to help all stakeholders to handle and manage the ITF R&D project in future.
The rate of commercialization opportunity of ITF R&D deliverables would be enhanced with the implementation of the MSTAM model.
| Date of Award | 26 Mar 2019 |
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| Original language | English |
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| Supervisor | Kong Bieng CHUAH (Supervisor) |