ABSTRACT
Abstract The Barcelona School of Civil Engineering has been involved in applied research on concrete since the early 1980s. The important factors of the concrete group that have influenced its interaction with industry and its philosophy in product-specific research, are discussed. Some of its projects carried out jointly with Spanish and European enterprises are reviewed, and conclusions regarding the process of technology transfer are made based on this experience. Keywords: Concrete technology, technology transfer, product-specific research, concrete structures, applied research
1 Introduction Traditionally, Spain has been, and in some aspects continues to be, a receptor of research results and technical know-how from other countries, with a few isolated exceptions. This situation exists in all industrial sectors, but more so in the field of construction due to its unique character (i.e., open non-proprietary technology, custommade products, dependance on different trades and specializations). However, since the early 1980s, the trend has changed due to some key policy decisions, two of which have been especially relevant. First, the enacting of the Constitutional Law for University Reform (Ley Organica de Reforma Umversitaria, 1984) which permitted and
encouraged technology transfer from the universities to the industrial sector. As a consequence, centers for technology transfer were established in all state universities to promote interaction with industry. Secondly, the incorporation of Spain in the European Community (EC) has made the domestic market more accessible to other countries and given new opportunities to Spanish industries and research centers. Also, European funding agencies have further increased university-industry cooperation through market-oriented programs, which have hastened the changes in the attitude of both partners toward research.
