The book is the culmination of a research effort which spanned all continents and involved a large number of research teams from both the industrialised and developing countries. The book addresses a number of key issues related to technology transfer by small and medium-sized enterprises most especially whether such companies are more effective transferors than larger transnational corporations. A key aspect of the research was the fact that firms in source and host countries were matched to assure a degree of consistency in the firm coverage and their responses.

Papers presented at the International Conference on "South-South Cooperation for Technology Transfer and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)", held at Negombo during 18-22 August 2008.

This important collection examines the means by which technological knowledge is transferred from countries that develop it to those who need it. Written by well-known authorities and derived from a conference held at the University of California and sponsored by IBEAR (International Business Education Research Program), the contributions focus on the transfer of technology from Western countries to Asian countries.

From the perspective of business and technologists the main focus of technology transfer is to improve the competitive advantage of firms through the enhancement of customer value. It is envisaged that, through the improvement of competitive advantage, a firm and its partners collaborating in the technology transfer project will gain financial and other strategic benefits. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are one of the most vital segments of a nation that significantly contribute to the gross domestic product (GDP) and mobilise scarce resources to the needs of fragmented domestic markets. Promotion of SMEs is deemed as a prominent approach to sustainable development, alleviation of poverty, increasing employment and raising the standard of living. In recent decades, SMEs have begun to utilize technology transfer as a strategic means of meeting challenges posed by the globalisation of business. Due to their small size and skill resource constraints, they cannot carry out internal R&D to generate their own technologies but still need a flow of new technology to be able to compete. This need has created a new niche-market for technology transfer This publication reflects the views and experiences of scholars and policy makers that were deliberated upon during an International Conference on 'South-South Cooperation for Technology Transfer and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)' organised by the NAM S&T Centre at Negombo, Sri Lanka during 18-22 August, 2008. It includes contributions on perspectives of technology transfer and SMEs from several developing countries and presents significant insights on the role of technology transfer in enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The material presented in this volume will help the scientific community, policy makers and industrialists in promoting the vital role of SMEs in developing countries.

A few basic considerations concerning transfer of technologies; The role of nationalism, social structures and economic organizations in technological progress; Japan, China and India in historical perspective; Effects of technological progress on human life; The general principles for the transfer and growth of technologies in the developing countries; The base and infrastructure for the transfer of technologies; Transfer of technologies to the different sectors of the national economy; Purchase of foreign technology and foreign collaboration; Research, development and technical information services; Design, plant engineering and production engineering services; Seminars, demonstrations and in-plant training; The institutional arragements.