Int. J. Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, Vol. 11, Nos. 1/2, 2012 1 Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. A framework for government support mechanisms aimed at enhancing university technology transfer: the Norwegian case Einar Rasmussen* Bodø Graduate School of Business, 8049 Bodø, Norway E-mail: einar.rasmussen@hibo.no *Corresponding author Mark P. Rice School of Business, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609-2280, USA E-mail: rice@wpi.edu Abstract: This paper presents a conceptual framework for overcoming the gap between academic research and commercial application, including the mechanisms through which government support can facilitate the transfer of research-based technologies into commercial application. The efforts made by the Norwegian Government to promote commercialisation of university research are presented and analysed. Based on the Norwegian experience, we describe three mechanisms for promoting the commercialisation of university research: 1 extending academic research into development 2 extending the role of commercial actors and investors who are ‘receivers’ of technologies developed on the basis of academic research 3 supporting the development and engagement of intermediators. The three mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, and implemented together can result in synergies that improve the yield from efforts to bridge the gap between academic research and commercial application. Keywords: commercialisation of university research; government support mechanisms; technology transfer intermediators; Norway; technology transfer; university. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Rasmussen, E. and Rice, M.P. (2012) ‘A framework for government support mechanisms aimed at enhancing university technology transfer: the Norwegian case’, Int. J. Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, Vol. 11, Nos. 1/2, pp.1–25. Biographical notes: Einar Rasmussen holds a Postdoctoral position at Bodø Graduate School of Business, Norway. He has also been working as a Researcher at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) Entrepreneurship Center and Visiting Scholar at Nottingham University Business School and University of Strathclyde Business School, UK. His main area of research is within academic entrepreneurship where he has conducted several projects regarding entrepreneurial activity at universities, such as