TT at Indonesia Railway
ARTICLE IN PRESS
Technology in Society XX (2003) XXX–XXX www.elsevier.com/locate/techsoc International technology transfer and distribution of technology capabilities: the case of railway development in Indonesia
Kartiko Putranto ∗, Don Stewart, Graham Moore
International Technologies Centre (IDTC), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
Abstract
Technology capabilities include various abilities from project planning to learning. In developing countries, technology transfer is often carried out in order to enhance the local technology capabilities. Through a case study of railway technology transfer to Indonesia, this article endeavours to provide empirical evidence that these capabilities are distributed among local institutions. This distribution is actually a way for developing countries to acquire a complex technological system by combining their various local resources. Since newer technologies tend to be more complex, in the future, more than just accumulating capabilities through technology transfer, the transferees will achieve more by learning in a systemic environment.
2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Indonesia; Railway; Technology capability; Technology transfer
1. Introduction
This paper relates international technology transfer to the development of local technology capabilities. Stages in technology transfer are identified. A particular stress is put on the importance of a feedback stage. Furthermore, based on the literature, types of technology capabilities are linked to each stage. In the literature, technology capabilities have been discussed at three levels: firm level, industrial branch level, and national level [1]. The capabilities discussed in this paper are not at a national level (e.g. [2,3]) nor they are confined at a firm level (e.g. [4,5]). This study
∗
Corresponding author. Fax: +61-3-8344 6868.
E-mail
Technology in Society XX (2003) XXX–XXX www.elsevier.com/locate/techsoc International technology transfer and distribution of technology capabilities: the case of railway development in Indonesia
Kartiko Putranto ∗, Don Stewart, Graham Moore
International Technologies Centre (IDTC), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering,
The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
Abstract
Technology capabilities include various abilities from project planning to learning. In developing countries, technology transfer is often carried out in order to enhance the local technology capabilities. Through a case study of railway technology transfer to Indonesia, this article endeavours to provide empirical evidence that these capabilities are distributed among local institutions. This distribution is actually a way for developing countries to acquire a complex technological system by combining their various local resources. Since newer technologies tend to be more complex, in the future, more than just accumulating capabilities through technology transfer, the transferees will achieve more by learning in a systemic environment.
2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Indonesia; Railway; Technology capability; Technology transfer
1. Introduction
This paper relates international technology transfer to the development of local technology capabilities. Stages in technology transfer are identified. A particular stress is put on the importance of a feedback stage. Furthermore, based on the literature, types of technology capabilities are linked to each stage. In the literature, technology capabilities have been discussed at three levels: firm level, industrial branch level, and national level [1]. The capabilities discussed in this paper are not at a national level (e.g. [2,3]) nor they are confined at a firm level (e.g. [4,5]). This study
∗
Corresponding author. Fax: +61-3-8344 6868.
References: New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1998. [3] Lall S. Building industrial competitiveness in developing countries, Paris, Washington DC: Development Centre of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Publications and Information Centre, 1990. [7] Lall S. Learning from the Asian tigers : studies in technology and industrial policy. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 1996. Lucie Press, 1995. [16] Tricoire J. Un siecle de metro en 14 lignes: de Bienvenue a Meteor. Paris: Vie du rail, 1999. Japan Railway Culture Foundation, 2000. Bandung: PT KAI, 1998. [22] PT.KAI. Kondisi KRL Jabotabek (The Condition of the Jabotabek Electric Railcars), Jakarta: PT.KAI, 1999. [25] Diatmoko R. Rail industry and present technology development in Indonesia. Madiun: PT.INKA, 2000.