Although the scope of these activities is not large, a 

 substantial number of entrepreneurial ventures in 

 developing nations has received assistance. Georgia 

 Tech and the Ghana Technology Consultancy Centre have 

 had a working arrangement under the former's 211(d) 

 program, which is now coming to an end. We recommend 

 expanding this type of effort. 



Initiative 5. Expand Assistance to Improve Capabilities 



of Developing Countries to Conduct 

 Industrial Research 



Approximately 80 institutions located in various 

 developing countries serve as agents for the 

 identification, acquisition, development, and 

 application of technology. Commonly known as 

 "industrial research institutes" (IRls) , these 

 institutions are characteristically government- 

 sponsored; some, however, are autonomous and self- 

 supporting. Their functions vary, but often include 

 research and development, establishment of standards, 

 product testing, quality control and certification, 

 review and approval of technology for importation, 

 industrial extension services, and collection and 

 maintenance of data and documentation on technology. 



Although the interest most common to these 

 institutions is food technology (usually excluding 

 agriculture) , their scope includes many other 

 industrial and commercial subjects. Staffs typically 

 include engineers and scientists who are graduates of 

 both domestic institutions and foreign universities. 

 These institutes are a central point for the transfer 

 of technology, since staff members usually work on 

 joint projects with foreign educational institutions as 

 well as on domestic programs. 



IRIs generally serve both public and private sector 

 industrial entities seeking technology-related 

 services. These clients range from large, 

 sophisticated firms to small enterprises. In some 

 instances, basic research is carried out in much the 

 same way as in a university science department. 



The effectiveness of these institutes varies 

 considerably, but many are relatively ineffective 

 because of inadequate understanding of the technical 

 needs of potential users, unfamiliarity with the ways 

 to obtain information about those needs, lack of 

 management and organizational skills, insufficient 

 access to world sources of technical information, 

 deficient research facilities, lack of resources for 

 constructing pilot plants and prototypes, minimal 

 operating budgets, and low staff compensation which 



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