Adopting Design Science Research to Develop a Framework for Systematic Technology Application Selection

Research institutes and universities play a crucial role in developing and commercializing new
technologies, providing researchers with opportunities to leverage their scientific developments for
innovation. However, several obstacles, such as technological uncertainty, market dynamics, and
researchers' lack of entrepreneurial awareness, impede commercialization. In the early stage,
specifically the Technology Application Selection (TAS) phase, where the decisions made significantly
influence later success or failure, multiple challenges prevail. Thus, it is essential to navigate through
this phase systematically.
This research project aims to address critical gaps in selecting technology applications. The TAS
Framework developed in this dissertation consists of five canvases, each designed to support specific
objectives to reach the overall goal. It provides researchers and innovators with a systematic approach
to identify and select promising technology applications. The framework facilitates informed decision-
making during the fuzzy front-end phase by promoting a comprehensive understanding, the systematic
exploration of alternative ideas, evaluation, alignment of the idea with the problem and customer, and a
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systematic examination of the market potential. The dissertation contributes to theory by resolving
methodological challenges in TAS processes, improving the understanding of TAS, and laying the
foundation for a rigor conceptual model.
Further, it demonstrates the successful application of the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology
in entrepreneurship, serving as a benchmark, which adds a crucial pillar to entrepreneurship education,
while providing design knowledge for the intersection of technology innovation and entrepreneurship.
The artifact aligns with contemporary entrepreneurial tools and can positively impact society by
fostering technological innovations that improve feasibility, efficiency, and affordability of products
and services. The dissertation holds significance at a scientific, macroeconomic, and microeconomic
level. It has also received interest and positive feedback from innovation scholars and technology
transfer representatives.