A case study on technology transfer, capacity building and sustainable development

Globalisation is triggering significant and rapid developmental changes thus creating the impetus for emerging economies to evolve towards knowledge-based societies. This evolution is fuelled in part by the transfer of technologies mostly embedded in products and services. It has become a critical challenge for developing countries to build and sustain the capacity for the transfer of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) because of the rapid pace of change; and this further exacerbates the challenge of making well-informed policies and appropriate decisions with regard to technology transfer. It is important in this regard to understand what relationships (if any) exist between; (i) technology transfer and sustainable development, (ii) technology transfer and capacity building, and (iii) capacity building and sustainable development. Within the context of a developing country, this paper examines and summarises a Delphi study of the range of influencing factors for technology transfer, capacity building and sustainable development. The outcome of the Delphi Study forms the basis for further study of possible correlations between the factors of technology transfer, capacity building and sustainable development.