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Technology Transfer
Technology transfer can be crucial to the improved livelihood of citizens. Technology transfer is part of sustainability when: 1, A local firm is given the production contract and technology and provides paying jobs in a "third world" nation; 2, A local firm forms a strategic agreement (usually a licensing agreement) to acquire a technology, modify it, and to market a product in a "third world" nation; 3, A local NGO searches and finds an appropriate technology and finds an entrepreneur to finance its development and use in a needy nation; and 4, NGOs or a government agency does extension work (either through its own employees or by sponsoring local citizens) to demonstrate and spread a new technology to other citizens with the same need. Three types of technology transfer have been controversial in sustainability projects. First, some technology has been inappropriate for the people involved, big dams are an example. Second, copyright laws can prevent development of local industries and lead to pirated and illegal copy products (e.g. medicines, CDs, watches, software). Third, transnational pharmaceutical companies can search out and utilize plants from third world nations but refuse to pay appropriate fees for intellectual property rights. photo source |
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transnational corporations, research and development, RandD, foreign direct investment, appropriate technology, biotechnology, alternative technology, fair trade, intellectual property rights, copyright laws
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