Assisted technology transfer to SMEs: lessons from an exemplary case

Abstract

Assisted technology transfer (ATT) actions towards small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have been growing in recent years, as governments of industrialized countries have acknowledged the importance of SMEs in industrial economic systems. In spite of their success, SMEs show several weaknesses in technological development. This introduces opportunities for public intervention aimed at sustaining technological development in SMEs, especially through technology transfer processes. Although the need for this kind of action is widely accepted, how to implement ATT is still unclear, as regards both the choice of potential beneficiaries and the actual implementation of the transfer process. This paper presents a project of ATT sponsored by the Science Park of Liguria and addressed to 30 small firms in the sectors of plant engineering and industrial automation. After reviewing the rationale for ATT actions and highlighting some crucial questions related to its implementation, it gives an extensive picture of the approach adopted. Finally, it attempts to rationalize the case, in order to highlight problems and offer possible solutions.