8.3 Addressed to Industry

i) Industrial sectors must clearly identify areas requiring research backstopping so that the research institutions and organizations can better align their operations with the demands of industry. This will result in optimal utilization of R&D resources and avoid duplication of efforts.

ii) Industry must make efforts to increase in-house R&D activities and to be amenable to greater degree to contract research with the R&D institutions it must be more responsive to the drawbacks and constrains in the R&D institutions to suggest the ways and means of remedying them.

iii) Industry should seek to participate in R&D research planning in the areas of its concern, so that social demand is embedded into research projects.

iv) Entrepreneurs as the licensee should constantly apprise the technology transferring agency and the government about the problems and constrains encountered in commercializing technologies. In this respect, the small entrepreneurs could act as a group of consortium. Industry – R&D get-togethers should be arranged periodically to bridge the communication gap.

v) The technology transfer agency and the licensing of technology should not be a one step transaction alike a photographer’s job, but technology transferring agency should endeavor to assist the licensee at all stages of commercialization.

vi) Industrial associations must play greater role in educating entrepreneurs/industrialists as regards promotion of indigenous technologies.

vii) Industries should organize in-plant training programmes in coordination with R&D agencies to develop technical capabilities for absorbing indigenous technologies.

8.4 General

i) Increasing recognition needs to be given to the concept of horizontal transfer of technology by evolving a suitable working mechanism for promotion, transfer and utilization of indigenous technologies. In this context, it may be mentioned that technology transfer organizations (s) may initially consider restricting the know-how transfer to one or two chosen entrepreneurs/industry instead of releasing to several parties. After successful absorption, adoption and development of the technology, it may be offered as a complete integral package to other prospective users especially to small scale industries. By this technique the transferring agency can effectively bridge the gap existing in the present technology transfer mechanism (between generators and users) necessary for successful promotion of indigenous technologies.

ii) A rigorous selection procedure must be followed to determine the fields of research in which a country can afford to specialize and make a significant contribution both to adopting imported technologies and to promote new technologies. Major activities should be directed to those vital and strategic areas where maximum value added can result in the overall transformation process.

iii) In the areas selected for R&D, a proper balance must be maintained between the efforts to digest imported technologies for the driving sector, and the development of new technologies for the future sector, resources must be allocated specifically for market research and commercialization of new and emerging technologies.

iv) Financial institutions should provide concessional finance and risk capital for the implementation of development projects based on research. They should develop policies and mechanisms for assisting entrepreneurs and industry not only for commercialization of technologies but also for post-production improvements. The development banks and financial institutions should adopt expeditious and simplified procedures, preferably in a packaged form, whether it is direct or through technology transferring agencies. There should be an exclusive cell to coordinate these activities, ensuring effective working relationship with user agencies. Similarly, these institutions should also be represented in the promotional organizations for active participation in technology utilizations.

v) Awards are mostly given for advancement of science and for promoting inventions. However, in most developing countries, successful commercialization of indigenous technologies are not well recognized and rewarded lucratively. This aspect needs special attention and positive encouragement for promoting technology utilization.