Module+Technology+Assessment

Technology Assessment Overview
 In this section we take __technology assessment__ to be the initial process of identifying technology, equipment, facilities and expertise. Technology assessment results in a report identifying potential actions and opportunities. __Technology evaluation__ is the process by which the actions and opportunities are considered in greater detail and prioritised.

Published literature on technology assessment (sometimes known in the literature as technology audit) is scarce. Methodologies employed by consultancy organisations interested in this type of activity tended to be inaccessible, often having the status of trade secrets.
 * Review of different technology assessment techniques drawn from published and unpublished literature. **

A study of case examples reveals several common themes and __elements of best practice__:


 * The project must have the commitment of senior management
 *  Staff must be told about the objectives and the method for technology assessment. Their participation and support should be sought at an early stage.
 *  Self-assessment (staff filling out forms themselves) does not seem to work in practice. Although people may agree to participate in principle, they are reluctant to fill in the forms. If they are pushed to fill in the forms they may omit details which might lead to further work for them.
 *  Brief questionnaires, which also serve the purpose of focusing people's attention on the technology assessment process, work well in some organisations, but badly in others.
 *  Interviews do seem to work well in practice, but the interviewer(s) must be able to understanding the significance of advanced scientific and technical work and have a broad view and experience of the external world. In some cases the interviewer, or one of the interviewers, should be an external person.
 *  The process must focus on individual scientific and technical staff members and concentrate on identifying their strengths and areas of particular interest and expertise. The whole process will be counterproductive if it even attempts to consider the weaknesses of any individual staff members.
 *  Technology assessment should not be purely externally driven, e.g. by external consultants. It must have strong internal participation and "ownership". External consultants can be useful in conducting interviews alongside an internal person with technology exploitation responsibilities.
 * Part of the technology assessment process should involve categorising "technology". It must not be assumed that technology exists in the laboratory in a form close to a proven commercial product. Possible categories of technology inclide: Licensable intellectual property, Laboratory prototype, Proof of concept, Equipment and facilities, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Special capabilities of individuals or research groups, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">A combination of special capabilities with equipment and facilities, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">An interesting research capability, or others.

<span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"> Prior to conducting a technology assessment it is vital to determine the objectives of the exercise and to consider what outcomes, or "routes to technology transfer" are acceptable. The best practice appears to be to consider as many "routes to technology transfer" as possible. A narrow focus on, for example, licensing of patentable technology, seems to be largely unsuccessful.
 * <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';">Preferred and allowable outcomes of technology assessments **

This requires a review of possible outcomes, allowable outcomes and preferred outcomes of technology exploitation. Ways of generating income (or profit) or "better value for the taxpayer" from technological strengths are many and varied. Some outcomes, such as licensing which benefits UK industry, or protecting the research or manufacturing capability within the UK (but at less cost than in-house for future cost avoidance) are preferred. Other outcomes which are not currently allowable may be encouraged in the future.

Possible outcomes of technology assessment may include: <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Contract research, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Technical and analytical services, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Consultancy services, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Licence agreement, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Joint ventures (e.g. dual manufacturing), <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Training courses, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Design services, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Additional research support, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">"Spin-off" companies, <span style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;">Manufacture of products, or others.