Technology transfer goes beyond the mere handing-over of patent rights, and this especially the case with ICT technologies. I’d like to share my practical experiences transferring technology into developing countries – or emerging markets - through consortia-based implementation of joint projects.
In my experience, knowledge transfer achieves more sustainable results within consortia than merely doing business together. The challenge to fail or profit jointly definitely creates a better perception of the value that lies in both conveying knowledge and receiving it.
Knowledge transfer into developing economies
Technology-oriented project consortia tend to achieve a lot of technology transfer “en route” through fruitful cooperation within a joint project; transferring complex knowledge across national borders and cultural lines.
The free exchange of knowledge within a public-private-partnership consortium is often more efficient than private-sector technology transfer companies, which have to make their money by charging fees for brokering deals between inventors and users.
The reality is that many Central European SMEs are simply too small to implement multi-faceted projects over a longer period, lacking the financial wherewithal and the project experience. Mostly it is the streamlined, far advanced projects that meet the requirements to obtain private equity or venture capital significant enough to ensure implementation.
Emerging markets, however, offer a wide range of business opportunities that can help develop the country, create sustainable jobs and generate competitive revenues. International consortia can help create a win-win situation by laying a foundation for joint cooperation.
Common business development platforms, for example, use local scouts when identifying promising business opportunities. International distinguished experts evaluate business opportunities and turn them into efficient projects that attract the interest of international investors and/or are eligible for public funding. The implementation is achieved through multinational consortia.
Cooperation within joint consortia companies
When transferring knowledge with various partners and stakeholders, it is particularly important to convey the feeling of working at eye level and creating a sense of equal partnership. Taking part within a joint consortium can convey this feeling to the recipients of transfer, preparing partners to perceive it as shared, rather than imposed.
Another challenge is to balance the experiences and skills of different partners; optimizing the mutual benefits and strengths within the project. A well rounded research and development team creates a balanced scorecard for a project.
When it comes to emerging markets, I recommend combining local understanding with the use of cutting edge, user friendly tools to maximize success and create mutual interest for the other part’s assets; reducing information overload through the use of sophisticated file sharing platforms.
The core precondition is to create both the infrastructure necessary to exchange skills and receive information on a larger scale as well as the means to order and convey the contents.
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Hello Constantin! Unfortunately, I have to agree with your view that smaller companies in Central Europe (as perhaps elsewhere) are very often unprepared to take part in publicly-funded project consortia.
Vlastimil and I were previously involved in project that was intended to help CEE SMEs take part in FP6 projects (e.g R&D) and we saw first hand the problems they were having.
One point I didn’t understand from your post. What are ‘Common business development platforms’? Could you clarify this term?
Hi all,
I think what we see here is a general unwillingness and/or inability to collaborate. Particularly smaller high tech SMEs are very often afraid to give away too much when asked to enter a joint project. EU support has helped to change this attitude a bit. Generally one often wonders, though, how companies with enormous high tech know how are unable to turn their competence into profit. Their deficits could, at least partly, be removed with the help of collaboration and efficient networks.