Title: Success in technology transfer to China: resource-based factors

Authors: Jorge Niosi, Claude Marcotte

Addresses: School of Management Science, Universite du Quebec a Montreal, Case postale 8888, succursale Centre-Ville, Montreal, Quebec H3C 3P8, Canada. ' John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Boulevard West, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8, Canada

Abstract: For thousands of western firms, technology transfer through joint ventures has become the preferred mode of access to the large and growing Chinese market. However, many of these joint ventures do not meet with success. Several performance factors have been emphasised in previous studies, including the adequate selection of partners, the writing of good contracts, guanxi, the timing of entrance, technical training and previous collaborative experience. This study finds that small and medium-sized enterprises have more difficulties in operating in China, probably due to their fewer resources and experience, needed to overcome the major technological gap between China and Western industrial countries. Some evidence is also presented both in favour of and against the above-mentioned factors.

Keywords: China; success factors; technology transfer; joint ventures; SMEs; small-to-medium sized enterprises.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2004.005611

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2004 Vol.3 No.4, pp.410 - 423

Published online: 30 Oct 2004 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article