Why does the technology transfer function exist at universities?
When the The Bayh-Dole Act went into effect in 1980, it created a uniform patent policy among United States federal agencies that fund research in university and other the non-profit settings and small business sectors.
For purposes of understanding the creation of Technology Transfer offices (or at least the "function" of technology transfer) across the United States, especially in research universities like Syracuse University, it is important to note the following.
The Bayh-Dole Act:
Provides recipients of federal research funds with the right to retain ownership of their patents (at SU, it is the University that is the recipient, not the faculty or staff member who is the Principal Investigator) while
Charging the recipients of federally funded research (in this case, Syracuse University) with licensing (usually patented or patent pending) inventions for commercial development in the public interest.
This principle - that inventions should be licensed for commercial development in the public interest - is reflected in virtually all university policies whether or not the invention is federally funded.