Effectiveness of innovation and technology transfer systems in Uganda: situational analysis using the contingent effectiveness model (CEM)
Ronald Jjagwe, Linda Amanya, Florence Agwang, Marvin AlinaitwePurpose
This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of innovation and technology transfer systems in Uganda’s academic, research and innovation ecosystem. It examines the actors, mechanisms, institutional conditions and contextual constraints that shape technology transfer outcomes in a low-resource national innovation system.
Design/methodology/approach
The study applies the contingent effectiveness model (CEM) as the primary analytical lens and complements it with national innovation systems and Triple Helix perspectives. A mixed-methods design was used, combining a cross-sectional survey of technology transfer stakeholders with regional focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, chi-square tests and analysis of variance, whereas qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis.
Findings
The findings show that technology transfer in Uganda is driven mainly by academic institutions, research organizations, innovation hubs and government-related support structures. Workshops, seminars, conferences, mentoring, in-house training and online courses are more widely used than formal commercialization channels such as licensing, spin-offs and revenue-generating intellectual property. Technology transfer systems are generally perceived as moderately effective, but their effectiveness is constrained by weak commercialization infrastructure, limited funding, high opportunity costs, skill gaps in specialized transfer roles, weak intellectual property systems and uneven industry engagement.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the literature by adapting the CEM to a low-resource African innovation system and demonstrating that technology transfer effectiveness in Uganda depends less on the existence of transfer activities alone and more on the interaction between institutional capacity, transfer mechanisms, commercialization support, recipient demand and policy conditions.