The technological revolutions of the last two decades have placed a severe burden on the concept of technology transfer. It is quite clear that the concept has serious limitations; with time, it is not at all clear that its methods have improved or its result progressed.
【F1】
The underlying assumption in "technology transfer" is that the application of new discoveries to the development of new technology through the developed countries produces results which are applicable to underdeveloped countries.
Although this assumption has never really been put to a true global test, it is through now clear that this can not be the main means of technological progress in developing areas such as Africa South East Asian and Latin America, irrespective of its possible utility elsewhere.【F2】
The question is whether such an outcome is inevitable and inherent in the process or whether it merely reflects the shortage of resources and improper management.
It is my contention that "technology transfer" as a vehicle of progress for the developing countries is irreparably flawed and cannot succeed.
【F3】
The fundamental flaw is that "technology transfer" is cast in the die of a colonial process where through developed countries do things in ways that they find acceptable for their former colonies, the developing countries.
Whether the development process is carried out through citizens of the recipient nation or not is irrelevant; the philosophy upon which "technology transfer" is based, beginning with training and ending with application, is composed of a set of socioculturally and economically determined values within the institutionalized fabric of science, which select the questions found to be meaningful, dictate the preferred research plans and evaluate the significance only of the results obtained.
Clearly, technology based on the set of determinants is not likely to be very relevant to the vastly different economic and sociocultural conditions of developing countries. It will hardly get to the needs of the developing countries, perhaps even serving to slow progress.【F4】
This situation must be replaced through a new process which might be called "basic knowledge transfer" as part of growth of a forefront science in the developing countries.
This approach contains the following features:
Given full access to new scientific discovery at the cutting edge of science, that is, at the region of high intensity transfer from basic to applied knowledge, the scientists of developing countries can create their own technology transfer from basic to applied. Scientists in the developing countries, in active dialogue with other elements such as government, community and industry, can identify and prioritize problems and develop a practical situation.【F5】
The problem of internal "technology transfer" will require for each country or region a suitable number of trained scientific specialists; means for maintaining the competency of these leaders will need to be developed through each nation or region.