R D Technology Transfer An Overview

This book explores major similarities and differences in the structure, conduct, and performance of the national technology transfer systems of Germany and the United States. It maps the technology transfer landscape in each country in detail, uses case studies to examine the dynamics of technology transfer in four major technology areas, and identifies areas and opportunities for further mutual learning between the two national systems.

This volume summarizes a conference held by RAND, at the request of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, at which participants offered their perspectives on issues and best practices related to technology transfer.

This title was first published in 2000: Due to budget cuts and competitiveness pressures, determining the outcome of technology transfer from government R&D laboratories to private industry and entrepreneurial start-ups is of increasing interest. This book presents a series of case studies of successful technology transfer by examining the same list of topics for each case. It presents a format for analyzing the cases, topic by topic - a methodology that could be used by any R&D laboratory. The book also goes one step further and compares the cases that took place prior to national technology transfer legislation with those cases that took place after passage of such legislation. An additional feature is the summary of existing attempts to measure and evaluate technology transfer. This follows a backgroudn section on the technology policy context. The analysis finds that there is a significant commercial impact from government laboratory transfer using this approach.

Edited version of papers presented at the National Seminar on Problems and Challenges of Technology Transfer, In-House R&D for Indian Industry in the 1990s, held at Mumbai during 22-24 January 1996.