Performance assessment of technology transfer project: An application of DEA technique

Technology transfer is a mechanism to acquire technology and helps company to enhance their technology capabilities. The purpose of this study is to demonstrate how Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) can be used to assess performance of technology transfer project at firm level. Data collected from transferring the robotics operating technology project of 12 automotive parts/components manufacturing companies are examined by using the DEA model. The results of this study show that six companies carried out efficient technology transferring. The average efficiency score of technology transfer project is 93.3%. This finding confirms that absorptive capacity of recipient firms is a critical success factor underlying differences between efficient and inefficient firms. DEA method provides Chief Technology Officers (CTO) or project leaders a framework to determine appropriate transferring mechanisms and necessary internal and external resources.