Technological Economics Innovation, Project Management and Technology Transfer

The government of Malaysia has introduced several national policies to facilitate industrialisation and technology development in the country throughout the years. However, the effectiveness of this policy in facilitating technology transfer has never be measured quantitatively. The objective of this paper is to review the evolution of Malaysia's technology transfer model and process since Malaysia gained its independence. This paper will look into the past and current national policies that have facilitated the technology transfer process in the country. A literature review was conducted on various frequently used technology transfer model since 1940s and compare it to the technology transfer process evolution in the country. From the analysis, the national policies introduced over the years have a direct and indirect effect on the technology transfer process in the country. However, the effectiveness of technology transfer model that was facilitated by the policy was never measured quantitatively. Further study needs to be conducted in measuring the efficiency of the technology transfer process that facilitated by a specific policy introduced by the government. The factors and sub-factors affecting the technology transfer process facilitated by this specific policy also need to be identified so that further improvement can be proposed.

One of the main challenges in technology transfer (TT) process is technology selection. Even though there are many researches that have focused on the technology selection, however technology selection remains a sensitive activity in technology management which there has not been much attention toward it by managers and scholars. Defining the position of technology selection in the technology transfer process, and considering technology selection through perspectives of technology management and a decision making problem, this paper presents a framework based on five professional workshops. In the mentioned framework, five technology selection criteria namely technological, technical, organisational capability, peripheral environment and supplier are identified and extracted by the exploratory factor analysis method. A real problem in automotive industry is also solved by using fuzzy TOPSIS method to explain how the framework is applied.

The transfer of technology from the organizational viewpoint

PurposeThis paper aims to establish a systematically constructed defence offset technology transfer (TT) process description and to identify the process pain points and critical success factors from the supplier perspective.Design/methodology/approachA novel integrated case study and Straussian grounded theory approach under the interpretative assumptions and purposive sampling in a global defence industry organisation are presented.FindingsThe TT is approached from the process modelling point of view, and a detailed operations description covering the end-to-end TT process across a defence industrial participation project is presented. The findings suggest that local recipient’s management, financial resources and planning, supply chain management and local production planning are the main factors of an efficient process.Research limitations/implicationsThis is a single case study, only reflecting the supplier view. Future research could explore the other dimensions of the process to confirm the identified factors playing a role over time.Originality/valueTo date, the body of TT research has focused on the factors influencing the technology absorption and the identification of meta mechanisms between the supplier and recipient organisations in a context of a multinational corporation and as an intra-firm activity, providing little insight to the actual practical operational level TT process. This study seeks to fill this gap by advancing a more profound understanding of the process activities and the main factors through which the local recipient organisation can best influence the project’s success and manage the inter-organisational TT operations more effectively in a highly technologically complex operational environment.

Despite the growing interest in university-to-industry technology transfer, there are very few studies on the governance of universities’ technology transfer offices (TTOs). The few existing ones tend to focus on US universities and generally tackle one dimension of the governance. The present paper aims at contributing to this literature in two ways. First, it takes into account the diversity of organizational models with a theoretical perspective: the paper presents a discussion on which combinations of four structural dimensions should yield viable configurations. Four main types of TTOs are identified: (1) classical TTO; (2) autonomous TTO; (3) discipline-integrated Technology Transfer Alliance; and (4) discipline-specialized Technology Transfer Alliance. Second, the paper relies on 16 case studies of universities located in six European countries in order to address the pros and cons of the four types of TTOs. The results provide both a conceptual understanding and an empirical overview of how universities organize their technology transfer and intellectual property management.

This report illuminates the decision-making processes affecting technology transfer at ORNL as they potentially impact upon development of high-temperature superconductors. The methodology of this report consists of an analysis of Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) documents laws, and regulations; a review of relevant literature on licensing, patents, and user center decision making; and interviews with persons directly involved in technology development and transfer at the laboratory. The process of technology development at ORNL encompasses, among other things, activities aimed at research and development (R D), technology transfer, and technology utilization. Each of these activities has officially become part of an overall laboratory mission referred to as technology development. 28 refs., 1 fig., 3 tabs.

PurposeThis paper reviews the framework of the management of technology (MOT) field and examines some application cases of technological development and innovation in China. It addresses various crucial issues necessary in the establishment of infrastructure, strategies, mechanisms and systems of technology management in China. It draws upon knowledge acquired from the US experience in this field for the past two decades.Design/methodology/approachAn overview and conceptual paper based on observations and research experience.FindingsThis paper stresses the importance of keeping‐up with the fast pace of technological change and the emerging new global paradigms of the business environment. MOT is an important strategic instrument to improve competitiveness and create prosperity in countries that effectively apply it. The paper draws upon the experience of the US in MOT over the past two decades and projects what may be needed for China to continue its development and economic growth in the future. There is a need for appropriate infrastructures, strategies and mechanism to be established in order to support the diffusion of MOT principles throughout China. Educational institutions offering business and engineering education need to introduce MOT curricula following the US model or develop a new model shaped by the Chinese culture.Originality/valueThis paper presents the crucial tenets of technology management and provides some observations and insights on technology transfer, technology strategy and innovation process in China today. It suggests critical areas that decision makers in government agencies, enterprises and international funding agencies need to address with respect to MOT in China. Understanding the existing gaps in the process of technology management will assist in implementing more sustainable arrangement for successful technology transfer and development.

Problem statement: In Libya, like most petroleum producing countries, attempts began to develop the petroleum industry through several frames of Technology Transfer (TT). The realization of TT is progressively more forecasted with a starting point of essential factors mainly government support, Knowledge base, environment, Willingness to learn and anticipated to rely more on these factors further in the future. Approach: This study evaluated the degree of significance for the government support, knowledge base, environment and the willingness to learn after years of implementing industry standards, importing technology and training employees and joint ventures with advanced companies were applied to the Libyan petroleum industry. Results: The TT performance factor measurements were derived from a questionnaire survey conducted recently on the Libyan petroleum industry, which involved in TT process. With response rate of 68.35%, the findings showed that the TT performance correlates with the level of readiness of environment, knowledge base, willingness to learn factors and the influential role of government support factor in the Libyan petroleum industry. Conclusion: Hence, results implied or even established that successful performance of TT, which able to cultivate petroleum industry employees can provide a broader spectrum of benefits to the petroleum industry.

This paper analyses mechanisms for transferring technologies from laboratories to firms which will embed it in their products. Analysis is based on the Fiat Research Center (FRC), an industrial R&D laboratory belonging to a multinational group focused on the automotive industry. At the end of the eighties, changes in the automotive industry strategy required technology management to take into account product complexity, growing research costs, new forms of vertical coordination with suppliers. In order to face these challenges successfully, FRC changed its 'group-oriented' strategy into a 'market-driven' one. It developed a new Technology Transfer (TT) process, that had to deal with the trade-off concerning limitations imposed by the group policy in terms of disclosure of innovative technologies, the growth of technological competencies owned by suppliers, and requests arising from customers. The focus of this work is on relationships among the mechanisms for transferring technological knowledge, changes in organizational structures, and intra- and inter-firm coordination mechanisms. The process of TT, and required organizational structures and mechanisms, are considered as depending on (1) the complexity of transferred technologies and (2) organizational competencies owned by firms where technologies are transferred. 'Tacit' knowledge and 'sticky' information concepts are used to explain the existence of alternative mechanisms of TT. Finally, analysis of the cost of coordinating the transfer of technologies to suppliers and Fiat business units has been used to evaluate FRC investments in new technologies, in order to put emphasis on the effect of active management of knowledge on the value of a technology.

We profile a technology transfer process between two partnering research institutions and the early outcomes. The Partnerships to Advance Cancer Health Equity (PACHE) program seeks to increase cancer research at HBCUs via collaborations with NCI-designated cancer centers. One such partnership, the Florida-California Cancer Research Education and Engagement (CaRE2) Health Equity Center, completed a series of studies with Patient Derived Xenograft (PDX) models to test novel compounds and delivery systems as treatment for pancreatic cancer. PDX models involve the implantation of human tumor tissues into immune incompetent mice for studies that mirror the human context. Few pancreatic cancer PDX models exist for Black patients, at high risk for pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality. For early studies, the cancer center Tissue Modeling & Drug Development Core (TMDDC) shipped the PDX models to the HBCU after implantation in the 25 mice needed for each study. To increase research capacity at the HBCU after these successful studies, the HBCU investigators, students, and a veterinarian were trained at the cancer center lab to implant the PDX tumor tissue in immune incompetent mice. The TMDDC shipped frozen PDX tumor tissue from a Black male patient to the HBCU, which the veterinarian implanted in 3 mice (Generation 1; Gen1). Tumor growth occurred in 1 of 3 mice (33%). The Gen1 tumor is now being expanded by implantation into 5 additional mice (Gen2) for future implantation in the 25 mice (Gen3) that are needed for the planned studies. The TMDDC shipped tissue from a Black female patient’s PDX tumor to the HBCU for replication of Gen1-3 procedures. In support of 2 CaRE2 projects, the 50 mice (25 from a Black male, 25 from a Black female) with the Gen3 PDX tumors will be used at the HBCU to (1) test effects of a modified gemcitabine compound delivered by nanotechnology, and (2) test a cfDNA biomarker of tumor response. Two postbaccalaureate trainees (1 at cancer center, 1 at HBCU) worked with the TMDDC at each institution as part of the technology transfer from the cancer center to the HBCU. The trainees’ important contribution to the technology transfer process involved documentation of the standard operating procedures for receiving the PDX tissues, implementing the expansion Gen1-3 steps for research at the HBCU, and building a well-annotated, living repository of pancreatic PDX tissues at the HBCU for ongoing cancer health disparities research studies and for training of the HBCU graduate students in the use of these technologies. This successful technology transfer enables cutting edge training for the HBCU students and facilitates their success as they enter the cancer health disparities research workforce. Furthermore, this project demonstrates the hallmark of a successful PACHE partnership, specifically the complementary collaboration among the CaRE2 Projects, Research Education Core, TMDDC, and Administrative Core to enable this technology transfer to the HBCU. Citation Format: Teni O. Akin-Olugbemi (equal contribution), De'llaijah Lucas (equal contribution), Romell Stone, Esther Frimpong, Raviteja Bulusu, Hernan Flores-Rozas, Edward Agyare, Tanise Jackson, Renee Reams, Seth Ablordeppey, Brooke Hensel, Jose Trevino, Steven J. Hughes, Han Song, Christina Gobin, Bodour Salhia, Paul Okunieff, Kristianna Fredenburg, John M. Allen, Bereket Mochona, Diana J. Wilkie. PDX technology transfer: NCI cancer center to HBCU [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 45.

Many developing and newly industrialized countries lack the technical and management capabilities to undertake large and/or complex infrastructure projects. In an effort to more rapidly develop their infrastructure, economies and living standards, many have embarked on a series of international Technology Transfer (TT) initiatives within the construction and other industries. However, these initiatives have not immediately translated into enhanced capabilities and competitiveness within host country firms, resulting in a sustained reliance on foreign firms. In an attempt to improve rates of TT in developing countries, this article proposes a conceptual model for international TT that accommodates the numerous factors believed to impact on the processes effectiveness and derived outcomes. Utilizing the results from a questionnaire survey of 162 industry professionals from Thailand, an international TT model including the significant factors which impact on the TT process and the degree of value added from it, was formulated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, the significance of direct and indirect interrelationships between model factors was determined through structural equation modeling. This model included four process enablers, namely, government influence, transferee characteristics, transferor characteristics and relationship building, and one outcome factor named TT value added. Building relationships (i.e. trust, understanding and communication) between the transferor and transferee was determined to be the key predictor of TT-induced value creation for the host construction sector.

A pesquisa objetivou identificar os fatores críticos entre atores sociais no processo de transferência de tecnologia (TT) no setor espacial, a partir de estudos de cinco projetos de parceria do Programa Uniespaço da Agência Espacial Brasileira (AEB) e do Programa de Parceria Inovativa (PPI) da NASA. Foram identificados o arranjo organizacional e os fatores que fomentaram a TT entre os atores do sistema setorial de inovação e produção espacial do Brasil e dos EUA. A metodologia de pesquisa foi o estudo de caso múltiplo envolvendo três instituições de ensino superior e quatro institutos de pesquisa & desenvolvimento (P&D), como geradoras de tecnologia, e o Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) e o Instituto de Aeronática e Espaço (IAE), como usuários. Os resultados principais foram dois modelos conceituais: o primeiro representando a TT entre gerador e usuário em termos das barreiras e facilitadores obtidos na pesquisa e o segundo como resultado da formação de parcerias e do impacto dos demais atores sociais envolvidos no processo de TT.

PurposeThe pre-eminence of innovation and technological transfer in promoting agricultural productivity and competitiveness in developing countries is widely acknowledged. However, the disparate streams of literature on productivity and competitiveness have explored innovation and technology transfer as independent predictors. Consequently, the mechanisms through which innovation and technology transfers jointly affect productivity and competitiveness of small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) in emerging economies remain under-explored in literature. The present study sought to examine the relationships among innovation, technology transfer, productivity and competitiveness of small-scale agricultural businesses (SSABs) in selected regions in South Africa and Zimbabwe, neighbouring countries which have been plagued by food insecurity in recent years.Design/methodology/approachA total of 400 questionnaires were distributed to SSABs owners based in Free State and Mashonaland provinces of South Africa and Zimbabwe, respectively. In total, 268 usable questionnaires (67%) were returned for analysis. Partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and Process macro (based on SPSS) techniques were used to analyse data.FindingsThe results supported direct significant paths between innovation and technology transfer; technology transfer and productivity; and productivity and competitiveness. Furthermore, the results suggested that technology transfer and productivity consecutively fully mediate the relationship between innovation and competitiveness.Research limitations/implicationsThe use of a survey could not provide sufficient explanations as to why the variable examined related the way they did.Practical implicationsThe study provides useful insights into the significance of considering the dimensions and methods of innovation and technology transfer in agricultural business activities and processes to improve productivity and competitiveness of SSABs.Social implicationsThe study provides some insights into how innovation and technology transfer could be employed by small scale agricultural businesses as critical mechanisms for heightening productivity and competitiveness of these firms to guarantee food security and employment creation for emerging economies.Originality/valueTo the researchers' knowledge, this is one of the pioneer studies to examine the impact of both innovation and technology transfer on productivity and competitiveness of SSABs in two countries in Southern Africa. The study also constitutes a significant contribution to examining serial mediation of technology transfer and productivity of innovation and competitiveness.

Most current literature on knowledge and technology transfer (Appropriability Model, Dissemination Model, and Knowledge Utilization Model), provides models and descriptions of the processes of transfer, but these models are limited in terms of their application in contemporary high-tech industries since most studies do not provide plausible explanations on key behavioural factors affecting the transfer of knowledge and/or technology. Based on the literature, 16 research variables are identified as affecting the process and results of knowledge and technology transfer. Survey results indicate four key factors to accelerating knowledge and technology transfer: Communication, Distance, Equivocality, and Motivation. Data analyses show that there are four distinctive clusters that demonstrate contrasting characteristics in terms of these four factors. The careful mapping of the four clusters on the four factors indicates informative knowledge and technology transfer patterns. Finally, actions to increase communication interactivity and motivation, and to reduce cultural distance and equivocality are suggested.

International Technology Transfer (ITT) has played a crucial role not only in the industrial growth of developing countries but also in enhancing the competitiveness of their enterprises in the global market. Libya is a North African country that is currently shifting from a strictly petroleum/mineral based economy to a broad-based economy competing with distinct advantages through selecting, planning, and adopting the right technology for the domestic market. This significant transition requires strategic access to global technology transfer. In this paper, a preliminary strategic framework is designed to enhance the sustainability of the ITT process from international donators to the Country of Libya. The research provides a systematic technology transfer process between the donor and recipient, which focuses on ITT challenges in term of barriers and planning. Two principle research questions are proposed to cover these challenges and help to develop a unique strategic framework: What are the most significant barriers for an international technology transfer between developed and developing countries? Moreover, how should the Country of Libya plan strategically to overcome those barriers and achieve sustainable technology receiving and adoption? In this paper, an in-depth literature investigation is used to answer both questions, leading to the development of a sustainable strategic framework that can help improve the ITT process from international donators to the Country of Libya. Additionally, the research highlights recommendations that can help to improve the quality of the technology transfer process itself in an international context.