Introduction

The term “technology transfer” became somewhat of a buzzword in the latter half of the 1980’s. But as with many terms that emerge in this way, it can refer to a number of different things, rendering a precise definition especially difficult. Most people are not exactly sure what it does mean. Contributors to this volume have provided a number of definitions, explanations and illustrations of the concept. Simply put, “technology transfer” can be considered the process of getting technical knowledge, ideas, services, inventions and products from their origin to wherever they can be put to practical use.