Free Open Source as Technology Transfer tool in the Arab world Jamil Khatib

Contents Introduction Technology Transfer (TT) Free Open Source (FOS) FOS TT Model FOS TT in the Arab world Conclusions/Recommendations

Introduction

Technology Transfer (TT)

Free Open Source (FOS)

FOS TT Model

FOS TT in the Arab world

Conclusions/Recommendations

Arab World

Arab world Innovation System Source: multiple sources available in the text

Major Problems Absence of National ICT R&D funding Technology industry based on import & use (No development) Lack of links between Research/Education and industry Brain Drain

Absence of National ICT R&D funding

Technology industry based on import & use (No development)

Lack of links between Research/Education and industry

Brain Drain

Core Questions The study will discuss the Effectiveness of FOS related processes to improve the cooperation between the industry and Research institutes in the Arab world What can be learned from FOS for technology transfer in the Arab world?

The study will discuss the Effectiveness of FOS related processes to improve the cooperation between the industry and Research institutes in the Arab world

What can be learned from FOS for technology transfer in the Arab world?

Contents Introduction Technology Transfer (TT) Free Open Source (FOS) FOS TT Model FOS TT in the Arab world Conclusions/Recommendations

Introduction

Technology Transfer (TT)

Free Open Source (FOS)

FOS TT Model

FOS TT in the Arab world

Conclusions/Recommendations

Technology Transfer (TT) “ The conventional conception of technology transfer is that it is a processes through which the results of basic and applied research are put into use by receptors” (Rogers, 2003, p.150) TT main Factors Industry Science Relation Knowledge and Know-how component Multi-way of information flow Industry ↔ Research

“ The conventional conception of technology transfer is that it is a processes through which the results of basic and applied research are put into use by receptors” (Rogers, 2003, p.150)

TT main Factors

Industry Science Relation

Knowledge and Know-how component

Multi-way of information flow

Industry ↔ Research

Approaches Source: (OECD,2000,p.165) “ Innovation and transfer are recognized to be complex social activities with communication processes at the core of them” (Hodgson, 2002, p.1).

Some TT Measures / effectiveness Shared licenses, publications & contracts Clear rewards system for cooperation Direct Contact with knowledge holders

Shared licenses, publications & contracts

Clear rewards system for cooperation

Direct Contact with knowledge holders

Contents Introduction Technology Transfer (TT) Free Open Source (FOS) FOS TT Model FOS TT in the Arab world Conclusions/Recommendations

Introduction

Technology Transfer (TT)

Free Open Source (FOS)

FOS TT Model

FOS TT in the Arab world

Conclusions/Recommendations

FOS (Software) philosophy Cheap software + community of volunteers Freedom to Use Redistribute Information Access (open source code) Develop, Modify and Improve Joining/leaving the development Source FSF and OSI

Cheap software + community of volunteers

Freedom to

Use

Redistribute

Information Access (open source code)

Develop, Modify and Improve

Joining/leaving the development

FOS characteristics FOS models Software Electronics Hardware Contents Social activities with sharing culture Decentralized Development Users’ feedback integrity IP rights  Copyright

FOS models

Software

Electronics Hardware

Contents

Social activities with sharing culture

Decentralized Development

Users’ feedback integrity

IP rights  Copyright

Community Internet based Network of developers & users Common interest Users are co-developers and testers Informal and lightweight management

Internet based

Network of developers & users

Common interest

Users are co-developers and testers

Informal and lightweight management

FOS Process characteristics Release early and often Transparency & Trust Shared testing and development Feedback and discussion (users and developers)

Release early and often

Transparency & Trust

Shared testing and development

Feedback and discussion (users and developers)

Evaluation Development vs. Users Observability Indicators Project completion Size and shape of the community Social trust building Community Knowledge creation Interaction (Bugs reporting and fixes)

Development vs. Users Observability

Indicators

Project completion

Size and shape of the community

Social trust building

Community Knowledge creation

Interaction (Bugs reporting and fixes)

Motivations / Internal factors Knowledge sharing Recognition among peers Learning and skills development Self satisfaction and fulfillment through achievments

Knowledge sharing

Recognition among peers

Learning and skills development

Self satisfaction and fulfillment through achievments

Motivations / External incentives Governments Costs control Free access to new information Developers Increase personal value (self marketing) Better future positions

Governments

Costs control

Free access to new information

Developers

Increase personal value (self marketing)

Better future positions

Motivations / External incentives Industry User Involvement in project definition Cost reduction  (R&D and support) Direct Channels with users Access to external knowledge and skills Special Business models

Industry

User Involvement in project definition

Cost reduction  (R&D and support)

Direct Channels with users

Access to external knowledge and skills

Special Business models

Contents Introduction Technology Transfer (TT) Free Open Source (FOS) FOS TT Model FOS TT in the Arab world Conclusions/Recommendations

Introduction

Technology Transfer (TT)

Free Open Source (FOS)

FOS TT Model

FOS TT in the Arab world

Conclusions/Recommendations

“ A substantial part of technology transfer occurs outside the technology transfer market itself. That is technical knowledge spreads internationally by noncommercial forms means, and it may even be transmitted free of charge .” (UNIDO, 1996, p.21)

FOS TT shared concepts TT FOS Knowledge movement Main component Motivator Direct interaction Effective TT Development Style Free info access Speed up Main concept Feedback/ multi-way Needed Within community

TT FOS Adoption Direct FOS adoption Common research problem for large participants Common communication infrastructure Open membership (all levels) Early release/share of information/results

Direct FOS adoption

Common research problem for large participants

Common communication infrastructure

Open membership (all levels)

Early release/share of information/results

Advantages & incentives Early publication with commercialization More information for startups Smaller Firms Resource sharing

Early publication with commercialization

More information for startups

Smaller Firms

Resource sharing

Measures Diversity of participants Community size Size and quality of exchanged information Knowledge created

Diversity of participants

Community size

Size and quality of exchanged information

Knowledge created

Contents Introduction Technology Transfer (TT) Free Open Source (FOS) FOS TT Model FOS TT in the Arab world Conclusions/Recommendations

Introduction

Technology Transfer (TT)

Free Open Source (FOS)

FOS TT Model

FOS TT in the Arab world

Conclusions/Recommendations

FOS in the Arab world Still in infancy stage Small community Focus on use and Translation not development No clear national strategies for FOS Lack of promotion to FOS products Lack of knowledge of existence

Still in infancy stage

Small community

Focus on use and Translation not development

No clear national strategies for FOS

Lack of promotion to FOS products

Lack of knowledge of existence

Arab world TT No (weak) links between industry & uni. Curricula based on international unis. Researches based on personal objectives Weak research cooperation with outside

No (weak) links between industry & uni.

Curricula based on international unis.

Researches based on personal objectives

Weak research cooperation with outside

FOS developing countries Local research and innovation promotion No reliance on external support or fund New sources of information Leverage the local skills Minimize investment risks (Dravis,2003, pp.20–22)

Local research and innovation promotion

No reliance on external support or fund

New sources of information

Leverage the local skills

Minimize investment risks

(Dravis,2003, pp.20–22)

FOS TT Advantages Low cost tool No need for special Institute Transaction cost Short adoption time Informal communication/ No bureaucracy Wider network of knowledge sources Brain Drain effect minimization

Low cost tool

No need for special Institute

Transaction cost

Short adoption time

Informal communication/ No bureaucracy

Wider network of knowledge sources

Brain Drain effect minimization

Advantages for Arab world Unemployment effect minimization Uni. (No industry cooperation)  FOS International recognition of researchers investment risk minimization (ready products) Cost minimization through Sharing Business model (minimum R&D based)

Unemployment effect minimization

Uni. (No industry cooperation)  FOS

International recognition of researchers

investment risk minimization (ready products)

Cost minimization through Sharing

Business model (minimum R&D based)

Difficulties Weak ICT infrastructure Weak knowledge in FOS Small FOS community Culture of low degree of general freedom

Weak ICT infrastructure

Weak knowledge in FOS

Small FOS community

Culture of low degree of general freedom

Conclusions Time & speed efficiency Need for strategic plans & policies Social values in education & industry Valuing individual participations (Reward system) Freedom Sharing

Time & speed efficiency

Need for strategic plans & policies

Social values in education & industry

Valuing individual participations (Reward system)

Freedom

Sharing

Thanks for your time and interest

Thanks for your time and interest