The institutional logics of research commercialisation: Reform, misalignment, and hybridisation
Moldashev K. Sahimbekov B. Kozhakhmet S.
January 2025Elsevier Ltd
Social Sciences and Humanities Open
2025#12
This study uses institutional logics theory to explore the dynamics of research commercialisation in Kazakhstan. It offers a novel perspective on the interaction between universities, industry, and the state in a post-Soviet context. While Kazakhstans policy discourse reflects a shift toward the Triple Helix model, empirical evidence shows a persistence of statist structures, fragmented policies, and institutional misalignments that hinder authentic collaboration. Drawing on 18 qualitative interviews with researchers, technology transfer staff, and industry representatives, the study demonstrates how competing institutional logics, academic, state, market, and managerial, shape actors expectations, roles, and strategic responses. It finds that universities remain dominated by academic and bureaucratic norms, while industry actors often pursue short-term goals, lacking absorptive capacity and risk appetite. Despite recent reforms promoting industry engagement through increased requirements for co-financing research commercialisation projects, institutional contradictions lead to symbolic compliance rather than effective partnerships. The study also highlights emerging hybrid practices efforts but argues that deeper alignment of logics and systemic support mechanisms is needed for sustainable transformation.
Innovation policy , Institutional logics , Post-soviet , Research commercialisation , Triple helix
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SDU University, Kaskelen, Kazakhstan
Narxoz University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Oxford Brookes Business School, Oxford Brookes University, Oxford, United Kingdom
SDU University
Narxoz University
Oxford Brookes Business School
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