The Hindu Business Line : Society set up for managing technology

WITH technology moving centre-stage in the theatre of global economic growth, management of technology including its transfer has begun to assume an increasingly important role, especially in developed and rapidly developing economies.

To enable Indian researchers and technology experts to network with global technology managers and follow global best practices, India's first `Society for Technology Management' (STEM) has been set up.

Launched here by a group of professionals working in technology management, intellectual property management and technology transfer at the international workshop on `Intellectual Property Rights, Technology Transfer, Licensing and Commercialisation' organised by Cornell-in-India and Sathguru Management Consultants in association with domestic and international research institutions, STEM would seek to catalyse professional development of technology managers and help accelerate commercialisation of innovations.

At the launch, Dr Mark Crowell, the President of Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), US, indicated that India and other countries in Asia are poised to become significant technology providers to the world and will no longer simply be recipients of technology.

Bodies such as AUTM and LES in the US, other associations in Japan and Europe have contributed significantly to enhance the knowledge of technology management professionals.

Countries such as India, which have been hitherto engaged in in-licensing technologies, now have great potential for out-licensing technologies due to several path-breaking innovations developed by Indian scientists from high quality scientific organisations.

STEM will promote best practices in technology management and engage in capacity-building among technology management professionals in India and neighbouring countries, the promoters remarked, adding that the society's membership will include institutions and private individuals.

STEM has the support of research funding bodies, academic institutions and private research enterprises. The initial governing council will consist of members from academia, research funding organisations, private enterprises and Government.

Several stakeholders within India and from other similar bodies internationally, such as the International Federation of Technology Transfer Organizations (IFFTO) have already extended support.

Mr K. Vijayaraghavan, a technology management professional with 20 years' experience in technology transfers between research and academia is STEM's first President and Dr Satyanarayana, head of the intellectual property cell of Indian Council of Medical Research the Honorary Secretary.

Dr K.V. Raman at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, will look after international liaison.

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