ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that although currently, international technological activities are limited they may be growing in importance. At present international technological collaboration occurs primarily within the 'triad' of Europe, the USA and Japan, and are limited in scope. A number of reasons can be suggested why firms may choose to internationalize their Research and Development (R&D). Their markets and manufacturing plants may be international, and R&D may be set up to support them. Foreign nations may possess unique R&D resources, or their governments may mandate R&D expenditure as a condition of foreign investment or procurement. A major feature of this internationalization is argued to be collaboration. The 'international' nature of collaboration is questionable in respect to the numbers of actually participating countries. The chapter suggests that an international dimension can be added to the learning. There is a wide divergence in views on the scale and scope of international technological activities.
