BRIDGING THE KNOWLEDGE GAP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY: EMPIRICAL RESEARCH OF UNIVERSITY OF NOVI SAD AND UNIVERSITY OF BELGRADE

Abstract

The paper presents results of the research of academic engagement activities among scholars in the Republic of Serbia at two largest and most influential universities. Comparison of academic engagement activities at University of Novi Sad (UNS) and University of Belgrade (UB) was based on the questionnaire that was sent to 3.163 scholars, and the analysis was carried out on the answers of 184 respondents. The included academic engagement activities are ranked according to the degree of potential for commercialization; starting from the publication of scientific papers in domestic and foreign journals, through participation in conferences and lectures, and up to higher levels in relation to the potential for commercialization of knowledge, such as consulting, selling products of a research without establishing a firm, licensing of patents, and establishing a spin-off. Potential differences in type of academic engagement were tested. A statistically significant difference was found between respondents from the University of Novi Sad and the University of Belgrade in relation to the mean values calculated for three types of academic engagement activities: publishing papers in international journals, selling products of their research without establishing a firm, and establishing a spin- off (new business). Respondents from University of Belgrade were statistically significantly ahead in the number of published works and sales of products or services without establishing companies, while respondents from University of Novi Sad showed a statistically significant advantage in entrepreneurial activity and the most significant form of commercialization of knowledge. Results obtained through this research of academic engagement activities show that researchers at the University of Novi Sad and University of Belgrade universities are significantly bridging the knowledge gap between universities and industry through the commercialization of academic knowledge.