Acquiring Technology from Outside

Managers of industrial research organizations must ensure that technological advances achieved in their laboratories materialize in the company's products and processes. It is the author's personal observation, based in large part on discussing technology transfer with many middle RD others set up a special department of technology "scouts." Some consulting services provide full-time technology scouts. The R&D organization of Hercules, Inc., for example, includes a director of new technology whose principal function is scouting for new technology. …