International technology transfer

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Technology transfer is one of the main elements of the process of using the country's scientific potential. Unfortunately, in recent years, it is foreign companies that have been finding new forms of development of qualitatively new products. The methods and forms described in the article belong to the heritage of the international community, but have no restrictions on their use in Russia.

Innovation, innovation, invention: what's the difference?

First of all, let's agree that innovation and innovation are one and the same. Most sources indicate that innovation is akin to innovation and is synonymous with it. At the same time, both of them are distinguished by the presence of additional value in a product, service, technology … Innovation is often defined as an implemented innovation, that is, an invention or improvement applied in practice with a certain effect.

Thus, an invention, in order for it to become an innovation, must be implemented, applied in some sector of the economy. This process is called transfer orcommercialization.

What is technology transfer about?

The essence of the concept of "technology transfer" is the transfer of research results (inventions) for some use. If the use implies an economic benefit for the owner of a new product or service being put into practice, then such a process is called commercialization. Our article deals only with the commercial introduction of innovations, so the concepts of transfer and commercialization are synonymous in this context.

Forms of capitalization of innovations can be contracts for the purchase of a patent, the creation of new companies or start-ups, various technology transfer centers (innovation centers) are often used.

General principles for the commercialization of scientific discoveries

The commercialization of innovations is to give a product or technology properties that allow it/her to be applied in practice with commercial effect.

For many years science has been developing in our country - in different directions, under different leadership, fulfilling different strategic tasks - however, at all times, special attention has been paid to the application of the results of scientists' work in various sectors of the economy. Transfer (commercialization) of technologies involves several stages:

1. Identification of new product priorities.
2. Market assessment of priority areas for potential deployment.
3. Calculation of the cost-effectiveness of implementation.
4. Exploring the possible negative effects of commercializationinnovation.

Let's consider the most popular forms of technology transfer.

Patenting

Patent is a document that certifies the exclusive right to the object in respect of which it is issued. At the same time, the invention itself must meet three key requirements:

• New (has no tax).
• Ingenuity (not obvious and required research to create).
• Utility (can be used in any sector of the national economy).

Special examination checks the object for compliance with these requirements and, in case of a favorable outcome, issues a certificate to the applicant.

Franchising

Franchising is one of the most popular methods of spreading new technologies in the modern world. It is distinguished by the preservation of the brand and the overall business model by the company buying the franchise. The main advantage of this method is that it acquires a ready-made business with effective management methods, product sales experience and image.

Yet the buyer remains dependent on the franchise owner. For example, suppliers are already defined by the technology owner for the user, new markets are often closed to the latter, and regulations and internal documents are also not subject to change.

Joint venture

Innovation and technology transfer can also take place within a joint venture. This organization is based onan agreement between two parties to do business together. Risks and costs are shared among all participants in the enterprise, which increases the efficiency of innovation dissemination.

However, the divergent interests of all beneficiaries can hinder the adoption of strategically important and urgent (operational) decisions. The distribution of profits is also difficult in such an enterprise due to varying degrees of financial and managerial involvement in the business.

Joint venture for the implementation of inventions into practice often includes foreign assets, which are usually responsible for the innovativeness of the technologies used, new approaches to management. The domestic part of the founders in most cases is responsible for marketing the national market, analyzing the characteristics of the situation, and local political risks. In this situation, the distribution of profits becomes a particularly difficult process.

Direct technology acquisition

The simplest and most common method of introducing innovation into practice is the purchase of a product (technology). This method differs from franchising in the absence of obligations in a specific direction of using the purchased technology, the use of a certain management approach, brand, brand. At the same time, the buyer does not receive any skills in working with the new product/technology, and the implementation process often occurs with many errors and delays.

Foreign investment

Employees of foreign companies often visit developing countries inlooking for new markets and cheap labor. The country in this situation receives all the benefits from the possession of new technology and the opportunity for a new round of development of its research activities. New jobs appear in the recipient country of innovation, and taxes are paid here. Despite this, it is necessary to take into account the indulgences and benefits provided by the state to a foreign innovation corporation.

Innovation management

Technology transfer can also occur through specific individuals holding certain positions in the company's top management. To do this, they usually hire a foreign manager, "poaching" him from a developing innovative company. A patent on technology can reduce the effectiveness of this method to zero, but nevertheless it takes place quite often.

You can "buy" not only the manager, but the whole company. This leads to entering new markets - thanks to the presence of a team capable of developing a qualitatively new product or service. Among the risks of this method, the overpriced sale price (due to the possession of the secret of the innovative product by most of its employees) prevails.

Invention commercialization centers

Technology Transfer Center is an organization that is focused on generating income from the use of the results of scientific research conducted in public scientific organizations and private companies.

Such centers are often called start-ups - new small innovative enterprises formed on the use ofinventions and other innovations.

The main functions of such a center:

1. Technical (scientific) – assessment of scientific potential, conclusion of partnership agreements, maintaining links with innovation developers.
2. Marketing research.
3. Legal assistance to organizations implementing innovations.
4. Project management.
5. Administration;.
6. Kadarmee management.

Stages of creating a technology commercialization center

At the first stage of the creation of the center, the strategy of the organization being formed, its opportunities, risks, and the main goal are determined.

The first step involves identifying several key aspects:

• The strategic objective of the center (for whom the organization works, what problems it intends to solve, how).
• Meaningful environment (potential clients, partners, customers, opponents).
• External obstacles (whether the economic and political situation in the country/region is conducive to the creation and operation of the center).
• Internal potential of the organization (financial, material, human resources).

The answers to these questions form the basis of the technology transfer center business plan and fill its main sections:

• Business plan.
• Marketing strategy.
• Commercialization plan.
• Workforce Development Plan.
• Training plan.

The second stage involves the formation of the organizational structure of the enterprise. At the same time, special attention should be paid todivergent interests of participants in the innovation process and the presence of external factors. At the same stage, the market is analyzed, the founders, clientele and organizational and legal form of the center (its capabilities in the political and economic system of the region) are determined.

Main conditions for the formation of technology transfer centers

The technology transfer center can be established by any organization and individuals, but most often the ideologists of such enterprises are:

1. Research organizations (research institutes, universities) - executors of work.

2. Authorities (usually regional and local) - to promote the development of technology commercialization in the respective region.

3. Private companies - business interests.

Market valuation can be carried out in three ways:

1. Regional direction.
2. International level.
3. Thematic concentration.

Technology transfer is, of course, the main task of any commercialization center, but there are two main areas of activity for such organizations:

1. Consulting - auditing, patenting, business planning, marketing, investment management, etc.
2. Creating and running a high-tech business - searching for promising technologies, selling unique products.

The transfer of innovative technologies can be carried out with the help of an organization or center of any legal form: a subdivision of an existing organization, a consortium,commercial or non-commercial legal entity, etc.

Development of technology transfer in Russia and abroad

The main conditions for commercialization are:

Reform and simplify the research sector of the economy in order to increase its dynamism and focus on innovation needs

At the moment, such a reform is taking place, which ensures the transfer of technologies in Russia, guaranteeing GDP growth and new solutions to problems and tasks in various sectors of the economy. At the same time, various research institutes are being closed and merged, new innovation centers with specific functions are being created in the overall process of the country's innovative development.

Giving state research institutes and universities new legal statuses

This is one of the most important aspects of the functioning of the technology transfer system, which is aimed at implementing the tasks of introducing new developments into practice. To this end, technology transfer networks are being created in Russia at the moment, allowing for the cooperative implementation of a qualitative reconstruction of modern industry and other sectors of the national economy.

Introduction of a system for analyzing and evaluating the effectiveness of research

Currently, there are many methods for evaluating the effectiveness of innovations based on economic approaches and mathematical modeling. At the same time, it is extremely difficult to take into account external factors affecting the industry in which implementation is supposed to be carried out.

Promoting international scientific and technological cooperation

Exchange of experience has always been welcomed in the development of knowledge-intensive industries. Today, there are non-profit partnerships, associations and unions of scientists from different countries, which not only implement the international transfer of technologies, but also largely determine the course of development of world science.

Increasing the absorptive capacity for innovation in small and medium-sized companies

Creation of innovations and implementation of innovations in private business is underdeveloped due to the lack of sufficient information about the benefits of applying innovations, as well as due to the lack of qualified consulting services.

In conclusion, it should be noted that international methods of technology transfer combine existing forms of business development, only taking into account the specifics of innovation.