2. In the 1980s all over the world, the potential opportunities that technology transfer could bring were recognized. This was based on a simple economic theory. Technology which has already been produced, and hence paid for by someone else, could be used and exploited by other companies to generate revenue and thereby economic growth for economy. It was this theory in mind that governments began encouraging companies to be involved in technology transfer. They set up a whole variety of programs trying to utilize technology that had been developed for the defence or space industries. They encouraged companies to work together to see if they could share for the common good. Introduction to Technology Transfer: Technology Transfer is the application of technology to a new use or user. It is the process by which technology developed for one purpose is employed either in a different application or by new user. The activity practically involves the increased utilization of the existing

3. science/technology base in the new areas of application as opposed to its expansion by means of further research and development. Innovation is the process of promoting technical innovation through the transfer of ideas, knowledge, devices and artefacts from leading edge companies, R&D organizations and research to more general and effective application in industry and commerce. Information transfer and technology transfer The Intangibility of knowledge Data Intangibility Information Projects and activities of the organization Knowledge Knowhow Action Relevance to the firm

7. Within the public domain Held within organization Media Published information organization-specific General information industry-specific information information Newspapers Scientific journals Internal company Television Business journals reports, Sales rep visit Internet Books reports, Research Radio Databases scientists’ notes, Patents Minutes of meetings Trade catalogues Network with : Customers Competitors Partners, Vendors Consultants, Academia Predominately accessed via Personal contacts inanimate scanning awareness

8. Managing the inward transfer of technology The inward technology process External Process of awareness and business operating association of externally environment developed technology The extent of these External science Process of assimilation activities determines technology and of external know-how the level of receptivity business linkages with internal prior of an organization to knowledge externally developed technology Application of the technology into core routines of the business This model explains how external processes affect an organization’s ability to engage in inward technology transfer and contribute to the development of a receptive environment

9. Technology transfer and organizational learning Individual Internal knowledge accumulation process and group that creates genuine business opportunities learning processes Acceptance Application Adoption Behavioral Assimilation Development Organizational of core routines learning process Expansion of the learning capability of the organization Individual and organizational learning: integrated model

10. The way in which the learning cycles link together is illustrated in the above figure. In the manner of double- loop learning the individual and organizational cycles are inter-related and inter-dependent. The learning process forms a loop, transferring knowledge from individual into the group. The process of assimilation and adoption of this new knowledge within the inner cycle moves the knowledge into the wider environment and thus into the loop of organizational learning. The role of assimilation has a slightly different emphasis within the individual loops. Assimilation in the individual and group learning cycle refers to assimilation of knowledge from an external source, which may then be applied within the company. Assimilation in the wider cycle relates to assimilation of technology into the core routines of the organization which, is evidenced by a behavioral change within the organization. It is only when assimilation in the wider cycle has occurred that learning has truly taken place.