ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the processes of technological diversification of the worldwide largest corporations operating in the chemical processing industry, and the propensity that they show to license out their technologies. The economic and managerial literature in recent years has paid greater attention to the issue of corporate technological diversification. By defining the nature and assessing the motivations of this strategic choice, this study provides an example of how technological diversification can also be used by the largest chemical companies to capture value from their internal R&D activity, through licensing. In so doing, this study tries to assess the effects of technology licensing for those companies without strong technological competences.
