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Technology Transfer

Concern is growing over the gap between science and the adoption of its findings. Now the ministers are grumbling. FORST and other science funding agencies are being directed to address the problem. So far the science community seems to be bereft of ideas.

The strategy for technology transfer cannot be dependent solely on the scientist's understanding of the problem. It must take into account the difficulties faced by the adopter of the technology, and essentially the adopter's perception of the problem, whether it is scientifically based or not. This is the area which has received the least recognition up to now.

Technology transfer must be looked at from the potential adopters' points of view. As each situation will be different, each technology transfer programme will require its own strategy. It will need to take into account the attitude and behaviour of the potential target to both the problem and the scientific solution.

Technology transfer is not just an extension of the research scientist's activity. It is a series of processes -- information management, communications technology and distribution -- each requiring specialist input.

Information management has primarily been a librarian's function. With the advent of computers and telecommunications, their traditional role has expanded into the new field of information science. Their purpose is to make information accessible and to move it from centralised sources along distributed networks.

There is more to communications technology than just the movement of data. It includes the incorporation of images and the development of expert systems tuned to potential adopters' attitudes and skills.

Technology distribution is like all other forms of product distribution. Geographical locality and effective contact with the market, backed by sociological and market research, are essential for successful sales.

The term sales is not used loosely. There needs to be a financial contract incorporated in the adoption process to facilitate committed action by the adopter. Money changing hands increases the expectation of the client concerning the outcome, and his or her idea of the accountability of the provider. It also makes the provider keen to reinforce the sale by offering follow up services.

The implementation of this three-step process is not cheap. If there is to be an acceptable level of adoption, science funders will have to realise that there will need to be less science and more emphasis on transfer. Anybody who has been involved in marketing new products --  the essence of technology transfer -- will know that the cost is millions, not thousands, of dollars.

It is not enough to conduct an awareness programme, write a few articles in journals and address a few seminars. Adoption will only occur when a person facing a decision has easy access to all the required details of the option, provided in whatever way is necessary for the task to be successfully introduced.

Steve Raynes is a specialist in interactive software.
Peter Trim is a veterinarian and co-director of the Bureau of Primary Information. Steve Raynes is a specialist in interactive software.