Developing Technology Transfer Processes in rural contexts : The case of Cauca in Colombia

Sammanfattning: This doctoral thesis addresses the technology transfer process in rural developing economies. Technology transfer refers to the movement of physical artifacts and knowledge from a transferor (e.g. a university) to a recipient (e.g. a cooperative or a producer). Many rural developing economies depend on rural enterprises engaged in small-scale production. These enterprises usually have limited market reach, inadequate financial margins, and low value added products. In this context, technology transfer commonly features large information and knowledge asymmetry between the transferors and recipients, the recipients’ dependence on government financial support, and the recipients’ underdeveloped business skills. Despite the importance of technology transfer for production improvements by enterprises in rural economies, little is known about how the two sides interact when technologies to fit the small-scale production context are transferred. To address this knowledge gap, this thesis focuses on how rural enterprises adapt and use technologies that are collaboratively developed with universities with the support of governments and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Empirically, the thesis analyses technology transfer aimed at improving silk, fish, and coffee production in Cauca, a region in Colombia. The thesis uses Situated Learning Theory, action research, and case study methodology. The thesis shows that i) intermediaries broker and facilitate (organise) the interaction between universities and cooperatives and rural enterprises; ii) there are seven features that enable technology transfer in rural developing economies and iii) ‘systems’ of technology transfer evolve in rural developing economies through analysis of problem formulation and problem solving as the mechanisms.