Technology Acquisition & Transfer What is Technology Transfer ? - - PDF document

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Technology Acquisition & Transfer

What is Technology Transfer ?

• Technology Transfer is the process by which technology is

disseminated.

• It involves communication of relevant knowledge by the

Transferor to the Recipient.

• It is in the form of technology transfer transaction which

way or may not be a legally binding contract.

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What is Technology Acquisition ?

Twoterms technology transfer and technology are normally used interchangeably. The verb “Acquire” means

• To come into possesion of; get as one’s own
• To gain for oneself through one’s actions or efforts

Technology Acquisition is the process of acquiring a new technology, new product, process or service ; by efforts of an individual or an enterprise or any other macro entity. This process can be conducted either internally or externally to the enterprise.

Types of Technology Transfer

• Scientific Knowledge Transfer, Direct Technology Transfer,

Spin-off Technology Transfer

• Informal

Technology Transfer & Formal Technology Transfer

• Internal Technology

Transfer & External Technology Transfer

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Internal Technology Transfer

Internal Technology Transfer refer to such technology transfers / investments where control on the ownership & usage of technology resides with the transferor. It is a complex process involving following decisions:

• Timing : When to introduce new technology / products in

the market?

• Location : Where to transfer new technology / products?
• Multi-functional teams --Which staff members should be

involved in transfer process ?

• Communication methods & procedures – What type of

Communication methods & procedures be adopted to facilitate transfer ?

Barriers to Internal Technology Transfer

• R & D goals are not known to Production Department.
• Difficulties in stopping current production to test new

products / processes

• R&D Department does not understand needs & capability of

Production Department.

• In general, Production Department is resistant to innovation

and is bound by routine.

• Non-linkage of new technologies to marketing / customer

needs.

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Overcoming Barriers to Internal Technology Transfer

• Top management support and participation in the transfer

process

• Providing supportive organizational culture
• Use of multi-functional teams in the transfer process
• Ensuring effective communication in the organization
• Bringing R&D closer to production.
• Rotation of few person between R&D and production
• Linking & participation of marketing elements in the transfer

process.

Steps in Internal Technology Acquisition by a firm

• 1. Planning new products / services / processes to be offered –

planning must incorporate voice of the customer & user needs

• 2. Screening new products, processes or services – only viable

/ feasible items be offered as only one out of 4/5 becomes a commercial success.

• 3. Initiating development process – must be properly designed

and carried out so that it facilitates success. Enterprises should

• a. Consist of temporary system capable of adapting to

dymanics of change

• b. Organize the systems around problem solving

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Steps in Internal Technology Acquisition by a firm c. Have flexible management system & replace rigid management system

• d. Use multi-functional teams.
• e. Proper integration between R&D, Production & Marketing

sub-systems f. Ensure effective communication

• 4. Carrying out trial production on small scale and test

marketing

• 5. Improving design & production processes based on

experiences / feedback

• 6. Commercialization i.e. mass production & sales

External Technology Transfer

• In these transfers, control on the ownership & usage of

technology usually does not remain with transferor and it passes on to the recipient, like joint venture with local control, licensing agreement etc.

7/2/2019 6 External Technology Transfer

Successful external technology transfer depends upon following factors:

• Type of the technology being transferred
• Complexity of the technology being transferred
• Transfer mechanism selected
• Relationships between the parties – building of mutual trust
• Core competencies of the parties & compatibilty thereof
• Organizational culture of the parties & mutual

understanding thereof

Methods of External Technology Transfer

• Co-operative & collaborative ventures / strategic alliances
• Licensing agreements
• Contracting agreements
• Enterprise acquisition.

7/2/2019 7 Why External Technology Transfer

• Technology already developed saves time & efforts
• Sometimes Growth objectives or competitive goals cannot be

reached through internal development

• Lack of risk taking ability for innovations
• Lack of internal resources (physical & human) for innovation
• Firm does not have core competencies to deal with complex

technological developments.

• Need to keep up with competitors
• Need to cope up with acceleration of technological change
• As a part of firm’ strategy --- let other firms take

big risks & it will purchase technology developed by them.

Barriers to External Technology Transfer

• Associated costs – usually high prices are required to be paid

in the form of royalities, technical & knowhow fees etc over medium to long term period

• Appropriatesness of technology i.e. its suitability to core

competencies and market needs is always a point of discussion and investigation

• Heavy reliances on foreign technology- may make transferee

/ recipient technologically dependent on external technology providers / transferors even for small issues

• Lack of mutual trust between two parties may hinder full &

timely transfer

7/2/2019 8 Barriers to External Technology Transfer

• There is risk of loss of control over technology and the

transferee / recipient may use technology in an arbitrary manner

• Transfer may render existing technology & its related

products / services / processes obsolete

• Transferee may turn a potential competitor in future.
• Mismatch in core competencies of the transferor &

transferee may create difficulties in transfer

• Different organisation cultures may create difficulties in

transfer

• Lack of effective communication between the parties

may also create difficulties in transfer Overcoming Barriers to External Technology Transfer

• Proper & well defined technology transfer agreement should be

signed

• Proper assessment / evaluation of appropriateness of technology
• Proper assessment / evaluation of compatability of core

competencies of the parties

• Building pre-agreement relationships so as to develop mutual

trust and so as to understand culture of opposite parties

• Seeking cross cultural training
• Ensuring effective communication
• Anticipating problems and adopting measures for

facilitating transfer

7/2/2019 9 Steps in External Technology Acquisition by a firm –

1. Identification of Need 2. Developing list of suitable technology providers 3. Short listing / selecting suitable technology providers on the basis …. Cultural compatibility, compatibility of core competences, appropriateness of technology, technical feasibility etc 4. Negotiation 5. Agreement 6. Payments as per agreement 7. Transfer of specifications, blueprints, designs, documents, CDs to purchaser 8. Training of technical personnel of purchaser

Modes of Payment for Technology Transfer

• Lumpsum payment or periodical instalments
• Royalities as a %age of sales over next few years
• Cross-licensing agreements
• Contracted supply of output
• Issue of equity shares in lieu of technology transferred

7/2/2019 10 Acquisition of Technology By Nation

• What factors influence acquisition decision?
• What are national strategies for technology acquisition?
• Methods of technology acquisition by a nation

Methods of Technology Acquisition By Nation

• Attracting TNCs / MNCs

– Through direct measures viz. making a positive list of industries open to FDI – Through indirect measures - viz by offering incentives & subsidies

• Attracting TNCs / MNCs into natural resource processing &

inducing greater value additions

• Using TNCs / MNCs to attract / encourage their overseas

suppliers to invest into country

• Improving skills & training of local technologists by involving

TNCs / MNCs

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• Developing industrial parks / technology parks to attract high

technology investors

• Offering incentives to existing investors to move to more

complex technologies and to increase or upgrade technological R& D base

• Changing competitive environment and existing incentive

structure to encourage world class technology & management

• Improving technological access for local firms for outsourcing

/ technology transfer

• Collecting, organising & disseminating information about

technology development Regulation of Technology Transfer By Nation

• The regulation is undertaken in two directions:

– Regulation of import of technology / technology inflows – Regulation of export of technology / technology outflows & Setting up of Joint Ventures (JV) and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries (WOS) Abroad

• Why regulation of import of technology? – What are advantages &

disadvantages of import of technology?

• What are – Guidelines on import of Foreign Technology into India?
• Why regulation of export of technology? –What are advantages &

disadvantages of export of technology?

• What are – Guidelines on Export of Technology & Setting up Joint

Venture & Wholly Owned subsidiary abroad?