Electro-Technology and Technology Transfer

Dr. Seiichi Takeuchi
Corporate Senior General Manager
Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd

Introduction

We have seen extremely impressive progress in the fields of semiconductor ICs, aerospace technology, computing and many others during the closing decades of this 20th century. New industries in multimedia, TV broadcasting, computer, space excursions and accurate weather forecasting have become possible as a result of these technological breakthroughs. The rapid development and rate of change in these fields make it no longer feasible for one business unit, or even for one country, to be able to carry their own research and development in every key field involved in the industrialization of these technologies. Therefore it has become more and more important to promote technology transfer among industrialized countries, creating a borderless economy and the globalization of industrial entities.

Electro-Technology

Trying to define what is Technology can be a complex discussion. Let us instead give a few examples of the new technologies that have precipitated rapid growth industries. The top of our list includes fiber optics, computing, wireless communications, semiconductors, superconductors, and new materials. The progress in these technologies have new industries and new applications possible. They include globalized communication networks, multimedia, the Internet, and very fast information processing systems. The penetration of Personal Computers into business and the home is one clear example of the pervasiveness of Electro-Technology in our modern world. We also realize that additional technological developments in the areas of database retrieval, artificial intelligence and the application of robotics to replace very tedious and repetitive work are leading-edge technologies yet to reach their full potential.

Future Challenge

We have noted that new technologies in these frontier fields have brought new modern conveniences and employment to the people of industrialized countries. However, we must also face the reality that there are some gaps in the take-up of these technologies within and between countries. These gaps create social conflicts within a country as well as between countries. The term "information poor" is now used by sociologists to describe citizens without access to the Internet. Similar descriptions for inter-country discrepancies include the terms "southern versus northern hemisphere" and the "east and west", which in the global sense is a similar problem. How to solve these social conflicts will increasingly become one of the new challenges arising from our Electro-Technology Revolution. Technology transfer between countries is one solution for such a challenge.

Practical Approach to Technology Transfer

What technology is to be transferred? In order to promote technology transfer in the field of electro-technologies, it is absolutely essential for the host countries to create an environment conducive to the necessary scientists, engineers and skilled labor required for the industries and their related supporting infrastructure. A quality education system must produce sufficient numbers of graduates to achieve some "critical mass". Besides the educational, industrial, institutional and infrastructure requirements, there are numerous other challenges and financial problems which are to be addressed for the technology transfer to be successful. They include problems such as the national balance of trade, availability of foreign currency to finance purchases, the management of industries (for example the overproduction of electronic products has weakened the financial position of the IC industry), environmental protection and regulation.

It is commonly realized that the globalization of new industries requires the specialization of technologies that are most suitable for each country. What field a particular country should pursue depends upon their unique circumstances, which are not only associated with their level of industrialization, but also with their social, economic and cultural background. It is not a simple matter to transfer technologies from industrialized countries to developing countries because the global economy is too dynamic and unforgiving of economic mistakes. Therefore technology transfer in electro-technology requires constant monitoring and adjustment which is dependent on the stage of the industrialization of the host country.

Contribution of Electro-Technologies. Our societies face serious local and global problems: It is becoming necessary to forecast natural disasters and then to reconstruct the disaster areas. We need to monitor our environment both locally and globally to prevent environmental destruction. The social security of our communities depends upon restraining crime, dependable energy supply, the maintenance of a good education systems and the conservation of local cultures. We can have no doubt about the contribution of electro-technologies in addressing these problems. Consequently many developing countries greatly need technology transfer for the modernization of their communities and institutions.

Technology transfer can be accomplished not only through high level government policies that might require the collaboration at a government level in the corresponding countries, but also through the collaboration among industrial groups, institutions and volunteer organizations in different countries. The IEEE is playing a large role in technology transfer between countries. Because it is a transnational organization, technological information is readily available in all parts of the world. This is one of the main objectives of the IEEE's learned society charter, which we feel is being successfully achieved.

Short Biography of Dr. Seiichi Takeuchi

Dr. Seiichi Takeuchi was born on 17 January 1936. He received his MS and PhD degrees from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in 1968 and the New York University in 1974 respectively. He was a research fellow at the Microwave Research Institute at the Polytechnic of New York before he joined Sumitomo in 1974. Dr. Takeuchi is presently the Corporate Senior General Manager of Sumitomo Electric Industries. He has served on many professional committees including the IEEE International Liaison for TAB (Technical Activities Board).