primary development goals. Implicit is a desire to 

 reduce dependence on outside sources for modern 

 technology. At the same time, there is a demand for 

 greater access to technology held in the developed 

 countries and better terms for its importation. 



These are legitimate and important concerns. 

 Continued gross disparity in scientific and technical 

 capabilities between developed and developing countries 

 is not in the long-term interest of either. The 

 spectacular growth in world trade after World War II , 

 thanks in good part to U.S. help in rebuilding war- 

 devastated Europe, testifies to the gains for all sides 

 to be had from self-reliant economies. Strong 

 economies in developing countries could support similar 

 growth worldwide. 



The drive for greater autonomy in developing 

 countries involves contradictions, however: self- 

 reliance is not equivalent to self-sufficiency. 

 Fulfillment of aspirations for material progress 

 normally leads to increasing interdependence among 

 countries, since no country is entirely self-sufficient 

 in the resources needed to achieve its goals. 



Global problems also foster interdependence among 

 countries. The scarcity of petroleum, minerals, and 

 usable water resources, for example, affects world 

 agricultural and industrial production and 

 distribution. Growing world population is putting new 

 demands on the world's ability to produce food, jobs, 

 and services. Many environmental issues are global in 

 nature. Furthermore, as populations multiply and 

 improvements in communication and transport spread, 

 people everywhere are affected more and more by actions 

 taken beyond their borders. Thus it is important to 

 foster cooperation among countries while at the same 

 time promoting sustainable, more self-reliant growth in 

 developing countries. 



Technology Transfer and the Problem 

 of Proprietary Knowledge 



Technology is transferred from the United States to 

 developing countries by many routes, via universities, 

 laboratories, visiting experts, books, journals, 

 technical reports, and the like. Much, especially 

 industrial technology, is transferred through 

 commercial firms in the form of products and processes. 



Commercial transfer of technology often involves 

 proprietary knowledge, available only on terms 

 negotiated with the owners of the technology being 

 sought. In the private enterprise system of the United 

 States and most industrial countries, the ability to 

 protect private skill and information is an important 



