T

Technology Transfer (TT)

has slightly different meanings in different contexts. It concerns the flow of knowledge, experience and materials from one partner to another. It can be horizontal, meaning the transfer of an established technology from one organisation to another to adapt and apply, or vertical, meaning the transfer of the outputs of R&D to application and commercialisation. It can be formal (licensed transfer of technologies) or informal (exchange of knowledge, skills and experience)

C

Capacity

is the ability of people or organisations to manage their affairs and reach objectives successfully

C

Capacity strengthening

Many companies, universities and governmental organizations now have Technology Transfer Offices (TTO), dedicated to identifying research which has potential commercial interest and strategies for how to exploit it

A

A capacity building plan

is an established plan within an organisation that maps out capacity gaps and needs, requirements for efficient absorption of provided capacity, and plans for assessment of the success of capacity-building activities

C

Capacity building

can be seen as incorporating a wide range of activities aimed at addressing gaps in the ability of institutions to produce, manage, use, implement and scale up their research endeavours. It is strengthening the ability of an institution to carry out its key functions. Capacity is understood as the ability of people, organisations and society to manage their affairs successfully whilst technology transfer is a term used to describe the processes by which technological knowledge, in its various forms, moves within or between organisations.

I

It ensures benefit

sharing that results from sustainable research and innovation. It helps in addressing gaps in the ability of institutions to produce, manage, use, implement and scale up their research endeavours. It also enables partners to identify where the gaps might be and to determine how best to fill them to maximise what works.

T

To enable partners

to identify where the gaps might be and to determine how best to fill them in order to maximise what works.

I

It creates equality

among research partners as an asset for sustainable research and innovation. It focuses on ways in which low and middle income partners can negotiate for greater commitment to building capacity for long-term development.

CASE STUDY

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)

The Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) structures its research capacity strengthening activities according to the needs of each country/institution. TDR works on the principle that to achieve long-term outcomes, what is needed are comprehensive capacity-building programmes that provide continuing professional development, support, and an enabling environment, rather than scientific training alone. Research capacity strengthening (RCS) is both explicit and embedded in its programmes: “Everything we do is RCS, and we try not to waste any opportunities. Even if a scientific research project is being funded in the north, then we will try to bring in a fellowship for someone from the south” (Ghaffar, IJsselmuiden & Zicker, 2008, pp. 64-65).

Reading

Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Framework ...

Research Capacity Strengthening, Revision 2016

The challenge of capacity development

Working towards good practice

Indicators of sustainable capacity building...

Analysis of four African case studies

Critical essay on international cooperation in health

Africa’s neglected area of human resources for health research...

The way forward

Systemic capacity building

A hierarchy of needs

A right to benefit from international research

A new approach to capacity building in less-developed countries

Fair Research Contracting

Health research capacity development in low and middle-income countries...

A systematic meta-narrative review of the qualitative literature

North–south collaboration and capacity development in global health research...

The Arcade projects

Successes and challenges of north–south partnerships

Key lessons from the African/Asian Regional Capacity Development projects

North-South Research Partnership: Is Collaboration Possible between Unequal Partners?

Social science research

Courses

Capacity Building

WIPO

Training and Workshops in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy

UNESCO

Capacity Building in Innovation and Technology Transfer

Workshop Program

Links and Organisations

Southern African Research & Innovation Managers’ Association

SARIMA

Practical tools for international development

Tools4Dev

Other

Opportunities, Challenges and Good Practices in International Research Cooperation ...

OECD Global Science Forum