Software support systems for use in technology transfer activities

Abstract

Technology transfer can be carried out in a formal manner by technology transfer agents or on an informal basis by technology generators or recipients. A number of modes of technology transfer are now employed by technology transfer agents which principally vary in degree of specificity. These modes are largely the same regardless of the technology under consideration. The processes are labor intensive and are now being automated using micro-computer based techniques and software support systems. The software support systems encompass pre-processors for database access, gateway systems, post-processors for citation analysis, databases on technology experts, report organization and writing, text processing, communications, statistical analysis and program integration. Much of the above software is commercially available with a few programs under development. In particular, a citation analysis program using lexical association methods is in the prototype stage and should significantly improve on-line database search precision without reducing search breadth. Integration of the commercial and/or public domain modules is an ever present problem with federally funded activities under way in this area. All in all, the full implementation of the previously mentioned software systems can reduce technology transfer study costs by up to 15%.