Here is Carlo Marco Belfanti, on “Guilds, Patents, and the Circulation of Technical Knowledge“:
In 1554 the Republic of Lucca established a special office, the Offizio sopra le Nuove Arti, to undertake the task of “examining the ways of introducing new ‘arts’ to the city, by searching for and finding men who were able and expert in these.”
Here’s an excerpt from the Organic Act, 1868, which establishes the University of California, describing the duties of the Secretary of the Board of Regents, a parallel position to that of university President:
He shall also have the custody of all books, papers, documents, and other property which may be deposited in his office; also keep and file all reports and communications which may be made to the University from time to time by County, State and District Agricultural Societies, Horticultural, Vinicultural, Mechanical and Mining societies; and of all correspondence from other persons and societies appertaining to the business of education, science, art, husbandry, mechanics and mining; address circulars to societies, and to the best practical farmers, mechanics and miners in this State and elsewhere, with the view of eliciting information upon the latest and best modes of culture of the products, vegetables, trees, etc., adapted to the soil and climate of the State, and also on all subjects connected with field culture, horticulture, stock raising and the dairy;
he shall also correspond with established schools of Mining and Metallurgy in Europe, and obtain such information respecting the improvements of mining machinery adapted to California, and publish from time to time such information as will be of practical benefit to the mining interests and the working of all ores and metals; receive and distribute such rare and valuable seeds, plants, shrubbery and trees as may be in his power to procure from the General Government and other sources, as may be adapted to our climate and soils, or to purposes of experiment therein.
To effect these objects he shall correspond with the Patent Office at Washington, and with the representatives of our National Government abroad, and, if possible, in obtaining contributions to the museums and the library of the said College, and thus aid in the promotion of agriculture, science and literature. He shall keep a correct account of all the executive acts of the President, and an accurate account of all moneys received into the Treasury as well as those paid out.
Historically, the primary direction of technology transfer has been transfer in. It is easier to know what you want and recruit for it than to discover what you have that you don’t have an immediate use for and try to export it. University technology transfer offices point in the wrong direction. This, too, is a bassackwards effect of Bayh-Dole, to make people think that promoting use of research inventions means licensing out patents rather than importing potential inventors and entrepreneurs with their technology developed elsewhere (promoting that use) that folks know will be useful.
If university technology transfer offices want to contribute to regional technology transfer, they will become importers of desirable technology. The entire world is their search domain.