•The behavioural foundations of open innovation partnerships which is still not so much studied.•Drawing on TPB, a micro-foundation model for collaborative innovation and technology transfer is proposed.•Our model uncovers the microfoundations of technology transfer by describing the process of intention formation.•Data collected from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) dataset are analysed by both Anova and linear regression analyses. In the current dynamic and virtuous flow of knowledge economy, firms are concern about whether to manage innovation centrally or through decentralized business units. Two needs emerge 1. Guaranteeing organizational efficiency and 2. Exploiting effectively market opportunity. This usually implies the integration of knowledge in technology transfer which can be accrued via the knowledge sharing between parties. However, by looking into the technological and social change literature, previous studies were mainly focused on macro-foundation of technology transfer and organizational innovative capabilities with less consideration to the role of psychological precursors of collaborations. Due to this gap, we intended to build a consistent conceptual basis for collaborations and technology transfer practices at the micro level. Therefore, drawing on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) we propose a micro-foundation model for collaborative innovation and technology transfer. To test our theoretical arguments, we use data collected from the Community Innovation Survey (CIS) dataset. Hypotheses are tested through both Anova and linear regression analyses. Findings show positive and linear relationships either between our perceived control factors and the intention between technology transfer and intentions.