Technology Transfer from RTOs

Abstract

In a global market high wage economies tend to be ever more knowledge based. Innovation has become a keyword for the western economies, and although innovation is not always technology based it often is. Through technology transfer knowledge providers can contribute to Schumpeter’s creative destruction that alters the behaviour, competitiveness and performance of an economy. This partly explains the growing interest in continental Europe for technology transfer from research institutions to industry as a hitherto poorly utilised way to convert research results into products, processes or services.

Before venturing on technology transfer knowledge providers and their staff should be fully aware of the potential benefits and threats of this complex activity. Therefore at least a basic understanding of the process, of the way it creates wealth and for whom wealth can be created is needed.