Title: Technology transfer and catch-up; lessons from the commercial aircraft industry

Authors: Harm-Jan Steenhuis, Erik J. De Bruijn, Hans Heerkens

Addresses: Department of Management, Eastern Washington University, College of Business and Public Administration, 668 N. Riverpoint Blvd. Suite A, Spokane, WA 99202-1660, USA. ' School of Management and Governance, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands. ' School of Management and Governance, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands

Abstract: This paper analyses the technology development and technology transfer strategies in the aircraft manufacturing industry for four industrially developing countries. It is concluded from four case studies that technology catch-up is extremely difficult due to aircraft technology characteristics. Based on this, several propositions are developed concerning technology transfer, catch-up and several aspects of learning.

Keywords: technology transfer; technological catch-up; commercial aircraft industry; aircraft manufacturing; learning; Brazil; China; Indonesia; Romania; technology strategies; technological development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2007.017809

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2007 Vol.6 No.2/3/4, pp.250 - 278

Published online: 16 Apr 2008 *

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