1. From the completeness of technical content, technology transfer can be divided into two modes: "transplantation" and "grafting".
"Transplant" technology transfer refers to the whole content of technology. The overseas expansion of multinational companies mostly realizes technology transfer through this model. This model has little dependence on the original technical system of the technology absorption subject and high success rate. It is a shortcut for "catch-up" countries or regions to realize the leap-forward development of technology and economy. But the payment cost of transfer is higher.
"Grafting" technology transfer refers to technology transfer realized through the flow of certain technologies, such as a unit technology or key process equipment. It takes the original technical system of technical demanders as the female parent, and it is grafted and integrated with external advanced technology, so that the function and efficiency of the original technical system can be updated. Obviously, this technology transfer mode is highly dependent on the original technical level of technology recipients, and the matching conditions are harsh. Although the payment cost of technology transfer is low, the risk frequency of grafting is high. It has been adopted by countries, regions and enterprises with relatively balanced technical strength.
2. From the perspective of different technology carriers, technology transfer can be divided into three modes: physical, intelligent and human.
The so-called "physical" technology transfer refers to the technology transfer caused by the physical circulation. From the technical point of view, the physical objects in the form of production materials and labor products are the materialization and objectification of specific technologies, which can reflect the existence of certain technologies. Therefore, when physical objects move or transfer in space, certain technology will be transferred, which is the basic form of so-called "hard technology" transfer.
The so-called "intelligent" technology transfer mode refers to the technology transfer caused by the knowledge dissemination and flow of some specialized scientific theories, skills, experiences and methods. It does not depend on the transfer of physical objects. This kind of technology transfer is usually called "soft technology" transfer. At present, the trading of patented technology, technical know-how, process formula, information and other forms of knowledge in the market is the basic form of this technology transfer.
"People-oriented" technology transfer is an ancient technology transfer mode in human society, which is caused by human mobility. Such as migration, transfer, recruitment, exchange, off-site training, etc. Can bring technology transfer. This is because, no matter what specific form technology takes, it exists with people as the core and is understood, mastered and applied by people. Therefore, the flow of human resources must be accompanied by technology transfer. During World War II, in order to avoid the persecution of war and fascism, a large number of scientists from Europe, especially Germany, fled to the United States, which made many leading technologies from these countries, especially nuclear technology, transfer to the United States and produced fruitful results.
From front to back, the above three technology transfer modes show the characteristics of transferring from tangible technology to intangible technology and from curing technology to activation technology. Judging from the difficulty of transfer, generally speaking, the former is less difficult than the latter because of the different requirements for supporting conditions of transfer. However, judging from the effectiveness of technology transfer, the latter is often greater than the former, and talent transfer is the most productive mode in technology transfer.
3. From the technical function, technology transfer can be divided into two basic modes: process technology transfer and product technology transfer.
Generally speaking, within the industrial technology system, there are two systems: process technology form and product technology form, and each technology form contains several closely related unit technologies, which together constitute the technical basis of social production activities. From the specific production process, technology is the technical premise and material means for the formation of product technology, which directly determines the technical performance and production capacity of products. From the overall process of social production, product technology often constitutes the unit technology of process technology (broadly speaking, the entity of process technology itself is a specific product), which in turn affects the overall level and efficiency of process technology.
In fact, any industrial technology is not omnipotent in terms of its function, but has its different emphasis. When technology focuses on influencing the production process and has the function of improving efficiency and expanding output, we call this technology transfer process technology transfer; When technology focuses on the results of the production process and helps to improve the technical content and function expansion of products, we call this technology transfer product technology transfer. Generally speaking, technology transfer in agriculture and extractive industries mostly belongs to the former, while technology transfer in manufacturing, information industry and construction industry mostly belongs to the latter. At the same time, process technology and product technology have strong coherence in function. Therefore, in the process of technology transfer, the upgrading of product technology or the change of process technology is often realized through the transfer of process technology.
It should be pointed out that there are many angles to investigate technology transfer, and the criteria for division are also varied. There are differences and connections between direct and indirect, sincere and insincere, general technology and unique technology, international and domestic, limited and infinite technology transfer methods. The above-mentioned division of technology transfer modes is only relative to practical value, and it is far from exhausting all technology transfer modes. At the same time, the differences between different types of technology transfer modes are only of relative significance. In fact, in the process of technology transfer, most of them are dominated by one mode, compatible with other modes, or directly mixed technology transfer modes.