Basic models of technology transfer:
1. From the perspective of the completeness of technical content, technology transfer can be divided into two models: "transplantation" and "grafting"
"Transplantation" technology transfer refers to the entire content of technology. The overseas expansion of multinational companies mostly realizes their technology transfer through this model. This model has minimal dependence on the original technology system of the technology absorbing subject and has a high success rate. It is a shortcut for "catch-up" countries or regions to achieve leapfrog development of technology and economy. But the transfer payment costs are higher.
"Grafting" technology transfer refers to technology transfer achieved by the flow of part of the technology, such as a certain unit technology or key process equipment. It takes the original technology system of the technology demand side as the mother base and grafts and integrates it with external advanced technologies, thereby causing the function and efficiency of the original technology system to be updated. Obviously, this technology transfer model is highly dependent on the original technical level of the technology recipient, and the matching conditions are relatively stringent. Although the payment cost of technology transfer is low, risks occur more frequently in the grafting process. It is generally adopted by countries, regions and enterprises with relatively balanced technical strength.
2. From the difference of technology carriers, technology transfer can be divided into three modes: "physical", "intelligent" and "human-power" technology transfer.
The so-called "In-kind" technology transfer refers to technology transfer caused by physical transfer. From a technical perspective, physical objects that appear in the form of production means and labor products are the materialization and objectification of specific technologies, and the existence of a certain technology can be reflected from them. Therefore, when physical objects move or transfer in space, a certain technology is transferred accordingly. This is the basic form of so-called "hard technology" transfer.
The so-called "intelligent" technology transfer model refers to technology transfer caused by the dissemination and flow of knowledge in certain specialized scientific theories, skills, experiences, methods and other spiritual categories. It does not rely on the transfer of physical objects. This kind of technology transfer is usually called "soft technology" transfer. Currently, commodity transactions in the form of knowledge such as patented technologies, technical know-how, process formulas, and information and intelligence on the market are the basic forms through which this technology transfer is realized.
"Manpower-based" technology transfer is an older technology transfer model in human society. It is a technology transfer caused by the flow of people. For example, various forms of mobility such as personnel migration, transfer, recruitment, exchanges, off-site training, etc. can trigger technology transfer. This is because, no matter what specific form technology takes, it exists with humans at its core and is understood, mastered and applied by humans. Therefore, the flow of human resources must be accompanied by technology transfer. During World War II, a large number of scientists from Europe, especially Germany, fled to the United States to escape the war and fascist persecution. Many of these countries' leading technologies, especially nuclear technology, were transferred to the United States to bear fruit.
The above three technology transfer models, from front to back, show the characteristics of transferring from tangible technology to intangible technology, and from solidification technology to activation technology. From the perspective of the difficulty of transfer, due to different requirements for transfer support conditions, generally speaking, the former is relatively less difficult to transfer than the latter. However, from the perspective of the effectiveness of technology transfer, the latter is often greater than the former. The transfer of talents is the most fruitful mode of technology transfer.
3. From the perspective of technical functions, 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 major systems of process technology form and product technology form, and each technology form contains a number of highly related unit technologies, which together form the technical basis of social production activities. From the perspective of the specific production process, process technology is the technical prerequisite and material means for the formation of product technology, which directly determines the technical performance and production capacity of the product. From the perspective of 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 functions, but has its own different focuses. When technology focuses on affecting the production process and has the effect of improving efficiency and expanding output, we call this technology transfer process technology transfer; and when technology focuses on affecting the results of the production process, it helps to improve the technical content and quality of the product. When functions are expanded, we call this technology transfer product technology transfer. Generally speaking, technology transfer in the fields of agriculture and extractive industries mostly falls into the former category, while technology transfer in manufacturing, information industry, construction and other fields mostly falls into the latter category. At the same time, process technology and product technology are highly functionally related. Therefore, the technology transfer process often involves the upgrading of product technology through the transfer of process technology, or the transformation of process technology through the transfer of product technology.
It should be pointed out that since the perspective of examining technology transfer is multi-faceted and the criteria for classification are diverse, technology transfer can be divided into direct and indirect, sincere and non-sincere, and general technology and unique technology. , the differences and connections between different modes such as international and domestic, limited and unlimited. The above-mentioned classification of technology transfer modes is only relative to the practical value and is far from exhaustive of all modes of technology transfer. At the same time, the distinction between different types of technology transfer models has only relative significance. In fact, in the process of technology transfer, it is often a certain mode that is dominant and compatible with other modes, or it is directly a mixed mode of technology transfer.