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The commerciaIization of stagnant technologies
Author(s) -
Ehretsmann J.,
Hinkly A.,
Minty A.,
Pearson A. W.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
randd management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.253
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1467-9310
pISSN - 0033-6807
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-9310.1989.tb00644.x
Subject(s) - commercialization , general partnership , business , joint venture , emerging technologies , technology development , joint (building) , marketing , industrial organization , process management , knowledge management , computer science , commerce , engineering , manufacturing engineering , artificial intelligence , architectural engineering , finance
This paper focusses on technologies which have failed to reach the marketplace for reasons which are connected more with the organization in which they were developed than with the technology itself. They are referred to as stagnant technologies. Such technologies can clearly be exploited via joint ventures; however there can be problems of finding a suitable partner and managing the partnership when one has been found. To overcome such problems a role for a third party is suggested which has been called the catalyst firm. Such a firm can be involved in identifying stagnant technologies, locating a suitable partner, and assisting in the management of the partnership through to commercialization. This approach is central to the activities of Aprotec, a Manchester‐based company specializing in the development and commercialization of new technologies, which plays the role of the catalyst firm. Experience to date is described in the paper, and a case study is used to show how the approach has been successfully applied in practice.