TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER: HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

1. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER:HOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN Dr. Terry Moss, General Manager, Eskom (South Africa)

2. Background • ¼ of the world lacks access to electricity • Improving the performance of the existing power generation facilities across the world would produce substantial benefits • Operational practices have been shown make a significant difference to the overall performance of the plant • Main benefit is likely to come from the improvement of operational practices and managerial decision-making • Analytical studies and documented practical experience demonstrate that • Technology/mode of operation account for 20-25 % of the overall improvement, while • Human factors/management account for 75-80 % 2

3. Technology Transfer Definition: Transmission and adaptation for specific cultural, social, economic and environmental influences of ideas, information, methods, procedures, techniques, tools, or technology from the knowledge holders to potential users. Alt. Technology transfer is the process of sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, methods of manufacturing, samples of manufacturing and facilities among industries, universities, governments and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users who can then further develop and exploit the technology into new products, processes, applications, materials or services. (Wikipedia) 3

4. Technology Transfer Dimensions • The handing over of intellectual property (OEM drawings, Operations Manuals, Industry Best practice ex EPRI, software etc) from one organisation to another – could be inter or intra organisations • The development of competence amongst people to be able to use technology they possess – on a spectrum of Awareness, to Knowledge, to Skill, to Competence, to Mastery – again either inter or intra-organisationally • Technology Transfer can only be said to be effective when the recipient (organisation or individual) is capable of routinely using and applying it as part of business – it has become part of the culture in the widest sense 4

5. Contractual Aspects • When plant is built/modified and new methodologies need to be shifted from OEM to user. • Nature of the transfer and monitoring specified in the contract is critical. • Suppliers of equipment do minimum technology transfer to protect themselves. • User to fully specify and then ensure and assure that transfer takes place • Documentation • Assured competence of individuals who have been trained • User may need to provide considerable assistance to the supplier to enable effective transfer to take place • Aligning the supplier with the individual’s normal learning environment. • Fulfillment of the contract dependent on a 2-way process • Passing of information • Receiving and assimilation to the point of operational competence • Important to how learning takes place, its application in the workplace and the measurement of competence. 5

6. Continuing Professional Development • Continuing professional development concerned with self-learning, exposure, coaching and mentoring e.g. • Learning to use new machinery • Operating to changed procedures • Using new tools, techniques and systems • Development and installation of improved and best practice. • The methodology of transfer becomes ever wider – ranging from institutionalised training through to networking, best practice work groups and simply reading of discipline, management and business related material. 6

7. Technology Transfer Scope • Are we talking the whole gamut from manufacturing and commissioning contracts and the documentation associated with them, through to the way individual learning is handled? • Are we taking into account knowledge warehousing and the ways this is populated, accessed and protected as intellectual property? • Do we include organisation culture (including procedures and assurance surrounding the identification, capturing, securing and dissemination of technical knowledge)? 7

8. PGP WG4 TOR Technology transfer: How to make it happen • Identify scope of transfer and options • Establish Best Practices • Measure Effectiveness (Knowledge / Competence) • Measure Benefits (Economic, Skills, Project performance) • Contract Formulation • Learner Environment (Cultural, Behavioural, etc) • Transfer Environment • Knowledge Sources (OEMs, Universities, etc) • Nature of Technology 8

9. Objectives • Establish world wide participation reflected by the Work Group Members • Identify those aspects that influence the achievement of technology transfer • Establish influence of global location (Americas vs Africa vs Asia vs Europe), legislation, culture • Establish best practices for technology transfer with regard to maximising benefit vs effort / cost, co-operation with OEM’s / NGO’s • Establish methods to increase the flow of innovations and invention disclosures • Establish models to solidify relationships with researchers and industry partners • Identify evaluation methods and models • Establish methods for reviewing and reporting on the effectiveness of technology transfer processes • Establish methods for determining benefits realisation 9

10. Approach • Initial discussion at PGP meeting to finalise concept. • Contact WEC and PGP members. • Determine the most likely contributors. • Determine where they are regarding technology transfer. • Establish any commonalities, areas of mutual interest/concern, best practices. • Define what to measure & how. • Get buy in and support from WEC/PGP/WG members, either at meetings or by mail (corresponding contributors) • Report back at PGP meetings 10

11. Way Forward • Benefit to be gained by participation and information sharing • Workgroup members? 11