Knowledge and Technology Transfer in Higher Education as support for Innovation: the case of University of Ljubljana

University technology transfer models have evolved significantly since the introduction of Bayh-Dole Act. However, the introduction of the knowledge and technology transfer concepts in the Central and Eastern Europe has its specificities, based on both different higher education systems as well as on the history of university-industry cooperation. Copying of US or Western European innovation models and mechanisms, more specifically of the technology transfer organization, in national innovation system of CEE has lead to smaller effects than foreseen. An example of the situation is also Slovenia, where new strategies for supporting innovation and the exploitation of scientific research results from public research organizations are being reconsidered. The article presents the current situation and the challenges in knowledge and technology transfer in CEE from the point of view of technology transfer offices, and underlines the case of Slovenian public research institutions, most notably the University of Ljubljana. An analysis of the effects of the newly proposed strategies for Research and Innovation Strategy of Slovenia 2011-2020 and the complementary National Program of Higher Education 2011-2020 with regards to TTO services is provided. Legal and infrastructural framework is considered, continued by the specificities of the University of Ljubljana on national and regional level, and the description of its innovation system. Special attention is given to the institutions at the university that together perform classical TTO functions.