ABSTRACT
An issue which is even more fundamental is that of the role of the university in society. This chapter explores "what is this role, and does it include crucially important functions which are not in the long term compatible with the demands of direct university/ company technology transfer?" It considers the main objectives of organisations at the general university end of the spectrum. The reward system is tied very closely to the formal teaching and basic research functions of the university, with heaviest emphasis on the basic research performance. The chapter also considers the issues to emerge as a function of the internal incompatibility of objectives, and the implications for companies interacting with universities. No matter what types of service the company is looking for, there will also be the decision to stay local or to go to the best available internationally. Modern communications make distance less of a barrier, but language and culture can still create problems.
