Networking for technology acquisition and transfer.

Technology changes the paradigm of economic activities and networking. Because of technological changes, market competition becomes wider and harder and networking becomes more international, inter-sectoral and inter-institutional. Technology also changes the mode of technology transfer and technology strategy. Technology transfer becomes easier and more formal since some portion of tacit knowledge is codified and stored in software. Technology strategy at the national level places more emphasis on private sector initiative; and at the corporate level it becomes more comprehensive including the functions from procurement to marketing. International networking is important especially for developing countries. Its means range from foreign direct investment (FDI) to licensing. A suitable means depends on the conditions of a recipient country. In addition, technology assimilation and domestic diffusion is necessary for full use of acquired technology. Further, domestic networking among industry, universities and public research institutes is necessary to utilise all technological capability for industrial development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]