Title: Technology acquisition through collaboration: practical insights for technology suppliers

Authors: Victor G. Ortiz-Gallardo; Frank Tietze; David R. Probert; Robert Phaal

Addresses: Instituto Mexicano del Petróleo, Eje Central Lázaro Cárdenas Norte 152, San Bartolo Atepehuacan, Mexico City 07730, Mexico ' Institute for Manufacturing, 17 Charles Babbage Road, CB3 0FS, Cambridge, UK ' Institute for Manufacturing, 17 Charles Babbage Road, CB3 0FS, Cambridge, UK ' Institute for Manufacturing, 17 Charles Babbage Road, CB3 0FS, Cambridge, UK

Abstract: This paper describes the conditions that influence technology acquisition through collaboration. From the analysis of semi-structured interviews and 11 case studies, we developed a technology acquisition framework that stresses the supplier involvement in the process and the factors that influence the outcomes. On the basis of this framework, we provide practical insights for suppliers to support their customers in order to raise the probability of success in collaborative projects. Our results suggest that effective acquisition of technology by means of collaboration is achieved by the combination of three conditions: effective partnership management, effective execution of the co-development project and effective transference of the technology to the recipient system in the acquiring firm.

Keywords: technology acquisition; technology partnerships; technology commercialisation; technology collaboration; technology suppliers; partnership management; co-development projects; technology transfer.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTIP.2014.066712

International Journal of Technology Intelligence and Planning, 2014 Vol.10 No.1, pp.67 - 85

Published online: 06 Feb 2015 *

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