Technology Transfer and Small and Medium Enterprises in Developing Countries

Contents: Preface. Introduction. I. Technology transfer in the global context: 1. An overview of technology transfer and technology transfer models/K. Ramanathan. 2. South-south cooperation for technology transfer and development of SMEs: how can it be possible?/Juan Alfredo Pinto Saavedra. 3. Concept and institutional roles for the implementation of the south-south global assets and technology exchanges system/Denis Nkala. 4. Role of business incubation systems to facilitate technology transfer and development/A. Balachandran. 5. Technology transfer: challenges to developing countries like Sri Lanka/Vijaya Kumar. 6. Public-private sector partnership/A.K.W. Jayawardane. 7. South-south cooperation for development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs)/Tajammul Hussain. 8. The effect of information channels and networks on knowledge generation and technology transfer in small and medium enterprises/Keith Jacobs, Jasson Gryzagoridis and Bingwen Yan. 9. Factors affecting utilization of information technology in organizations/R.W. Gakure and M. Wachira. II. Technology transfer and SMEs in the developing countries: 10. The strategy of Egypt in enhancing the small and medium enterprises/Janet Ibrahim Yousef. 11. Policies and programmes for technological capacity building of small and medium enterprises in India/M. Bandyopadhyay. 12. Technology innovation in Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs): the role of clusters and R and D alliances/Rama Swami Bansal and V.P. Kharbanda. 13. The role of business technology center for the development of small and medium enterprises in Indonesia/Anteng Setia Ningsih. 14. The role of science and technology for the development and growth of small and medium enterprises in Malawi/Jonas F. Mwatseteza, Felix Maoni and Lyson John Kampira. 15. SMEs and technology transfer in Nepal/Dilip Subba. 16. Status of SMEs in Pakistan and its possible uplift by PCSIR/Nighat Afza. 17. Factors governing the success or failure of technology transfer: state sector experience of Sri Lanka/Muditha P. Liyanagedara, I.Y. Kushani Jayaweera and Ranil D. Guneratne. 18. Role of business development service providers: implementation of technology transfer/Lakshman Wijeyewardena H.M.S. and Wasantha Senanayaka. 19. Challenges of integrating the Jua Kalis into the national science and technology system in Uganda/Bashir Rajab Kagere. 20. Small scale and medium scale enterprises in Uganda: challenges and opportunities/Adam M. Sebbit. 21. Technological renovation in Vietnam\'s SMEs/Ngo Thi Loan. III. The role of institutions: 22. ARCI: Translating research into technology/Arun Seetharaman, G. Sundararajan and Shrikant V. Joshi. 23. Technology transfer: Tanzania experience/Matheo L. Raphael. 24. South-south cooperation for technology transfer and development of small and medium enterprises: VIT experiences/D.P. Kothari. 25. Participation of COSQC in technology transfer and development of Iraqi enterprises/Abdulilah Mohammed Saleh. Appendix.

From the perspective of business and technologists the main focus of technology transfer to improve the competitive advantage of firms through the enhancement of customer value. It is envisaged that, through the improvement of competitive advantage, a firm and its partners collaborating in the technology transfer project will gain financial and other strategic benefits.

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are one of the most vital segments of a nation that significantly contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) and mobilise scarce resources to the needs of fragmented domestic markets. Promotion of SMEs is deemed as a prominent approach to sustainable development, alleviation of poverty, increasing employment and raising the standard of living. In recent decades, SMEs have begun to utilize technology transfer as a strategic means of meeting challenges posed by the globalisation of business. Due to their small size and skill resource constraints, they cannot carry out internal R and D to generate their own technologies but still need a flow of new technology to be able to compete. This need has created a new niche-market for technology transfer.

This publication reflects the views and experiences of scholars and policy makers that were deliberated upon during an international conference on south-south cooperation for technology transfer and development of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) organised by the NAM S and T Centre at Negombo, Sri Lanka during 18-22 August 2008. It includes contributions on perspectives on technology transfer and SMEs from several developing countries and presents significant insights on the role of technology transfer in enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The material presented in this volume will help the scientific community, policy makers and industrialists in promoting the vital role of SMEs in developing countries. (jacket)