For more than 30 years, Prof. Don Siegel and Prof. Al Link have made valuable contributions to our understanding of effective technology transfer, academic entrepreneurship, and public policy. In June 2026 they will be recognized for their research as they receive the 2026 Global Award for Entrepreneurship Research. In a special SSTI webinar on April 8, they reflected on what decades of research tell us about how universities drive innovation and regional technology-based economic development. In his remarks, Siegel emphasized that modern universities have evolved beyond ivory towers into entrepreneurial ecosystems: technology transfer offices (TTOs), industry partners, incubators, and entrepreneurship programs all working together. His research shows these systems can help make firms more productive, but their effectiveness depends on commitment from both the firm and the university, not just agreements on paper. He stressed that culture and incentives matter as much as research funding.
The same theme carried into Link’s discussion of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. Drawing on years of SBIR and STTR research, Link noted that simply partnering with a university does not guarantee a project’s success. Firms that use a university's technical resources and faculty expertise have a reduced rate of project failure and an increased rate of commercialization.
Link and Siegel emphasized that success depends on a clear institutional strategy for commercialization and a culture that celebrates entrepreneurship. They also pointed to the importance of measuring success beyond traditional metrics such as job creation, company formation, and investment attraction. They made a compelling case for broader measures of social impact, such as health outcomes, environmental benefits, and public good contributions.
For practitioners and policymakers working to strengthen regional innovation systems, the discussion offered a useful reminder that strategy and culture matter as much as funding. A recording of the webinar can be found here.