Ugra Centre of technology transfer

What is the TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES?

This is a new, little-known (in Russia) and, at the same time, interesting type of activity that covers such impressive concepts as “innovation management”, “commercialization of research developments”, “implementation of inventions”, etc. If to be more exact, TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES is a process when a brilliant idea of the researcher or inventor (in any area of activity), turns into the great success both for the inventor and the society.

One of the major difficulties of the TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES is to persuade the author of the idea to make it success; the author can’t introduce the final product alone. The author’s idea should pass the chain “theorist-inventor” – researcher-expert – researcher-technologist – researcher-production man – market researcher – vendor” involving the innovation centers, local governments, mass media, banks and additional productions in this process. This very process is called TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES.

It is worth mentioning that the notion TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES has appeared in Russia recently, and is directly connected with market relations in majority of activities. It is often used with another phrase “commercialization of technologies”, though the meaning of these notions is different. The English word “transfer” successfully replaced the coercive term “implementation” that stood for a great process of bringing the innovation idea into life. However, it is not simple replacement, but a considerable transformation of meaning of the process. Instead of the coercive “implementation” (that implies the active or passive resistance of the environment that experiences “implementation” of something strange) the “transfer” envisages not only the transfer of data on innovation, but also the active work on its implementation of the source of this data (for example, the author of the invention), the recipient, the innovation expert, the final user of the product produces by this technology. That’s why; the transfer of technologies is mainly focused on the participants of this process and not on the technology itself.

Definitions of TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES from various sources:

1. Process by means of which the new idea, development or technology turns into the commercial product with solvent demand.
2. Process of application of the technology, expert knowledge, know-how or equipment for the purpose that wasn’t initially implied by the developing organization. Transfer of technologies can result in commercialization or improvement of the product/process.
3. Process when the knowledge, production means or capacities available obtained by the federal funding of research and development works are used to meet the social or personal needs.
4. The formal transfer of new inventions and innovations made as a result of research of universities and colleges and non-commercial research institutions, to the commercial sector for the social prosperity.

Scientifically speaking…

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES stands for distribution of technological applied knowledge and experience about the processes, production methods and innovation products within the industry, between the industries and countries. 

TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES includes commercialization of research developments, i.e. transfer of the new technology (innovation) into commercial use, as well as distribution of the existing technologies. 

There are three main types TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES:

1.  The internal transfer when the technology is transferred from one subdivision of the organization to another.
2. Quasiinternal transfer i.e. spread of the technology within the alliances, unions and unities of independents legal entities.
3. The external transfer, i.e. process of technology spread with participance of independent developers and consumers of technogies.

 The participants of technology transfer process:

•  The owners of technologies
• Mediators
• Consultants
• Innovation centers
• Information networks, mass media
• Public authorities
• Investors
• Potential vendors

Transfer of technologies includes the following stages:

• On the one hand, identification of the need in the technology, and, on the other – the target of sale
• Cost assessment of technology purchase
• Information search
• Comparison, selection
• Talks between vendors and buyers of the technology
• Agreement conclusion and technology transfer
• Use of the technology