text: thatvitalarea. TheDirector menti.oned fivespecific areasofresearch: the growing useofinterfirm collaborative agreements bytransnational corporations, brought on,inpart,bythehighcostsandrisksofnewtechnologies; theextent tG ,~hichnewtechnologies reduced thelabour-cost advantages ofdeveloping countries; theimpactofnewtechnologies onthetradability of,andforeign direct investment in,services; thedefinition andprotection ofintellectual property rights; and thevarious me~hanisms bywhichnewandemerging technologies couldbetransferred todeveloping countries. Together, furthermore, developments inthoseareashada profound impact onindustrial structure. Healsopointed outthat,unless developing countries madefurther advances ineconomic integration~ theywouldrisk falling further behindintechnological development. Heemphasized theneedto orient theCentre's research towards developing policyoptions andtechnical co-operatior~ pr09rammes inthatarea. 104.Thediscussion emphasized theimportance ofthetransfer oftechnology to developing countries asanareaofpolicy-oriented andtechnical assistance-oriented research, including, especially, thoseissuesrelating tonew andemerging technologies. ]everal delegations referred tosuccesses thatwere achieved through theco-ordination ofindustrial policies andpolicies toobtain technology. Atthesametime,theexamples ofsuccess inthatareaalsoappeared todepend ontheattitudes oftransnational corporations. Theeffectiveness of technology transfer todeveloping countries alsodepended onhowadaptable the technology wastolocalconditions; itcouldnotbeassumed thatonlysimpler -42- , Jtechnology wasappropriate todeveloping countries. Themostappropriate technology mightrequire ablending ofthemostadvanced technology incertain areasandotmorebasictechnology inothers. Intellectual property mightbean important element inthetransfer ofnewandemerging technology todeveloping countries, buttherelationship between theintellectual property prot.ection regime andforeign directinvestment flowswasnotclear. Onedelegate suggested that changes intheregimegoverning intellectual property rights werelikelytohavean important impact ontechnology transfer. 105.Anumberofsuggestions forfurther research wereputforward. The relationship between theextentofprotection afforded intellectual property and foreign direct investment flows(including theability ofdeveloping countries to obtain newandemerging technologies) required further research whichshouldalso takeintoaccount thediscussions andnegotiations inotherforums. Assessing the transfer ofnewandemerging technologies todeveloping countries wouldbenefit fromastudyofinstances inwhichsuchtransfer successfully occurred, including themechanisms bywhichco-ordination between industrial andtechnology policies wasachieved. Technology transfer alsoneededtobeevaluated intermsofhowmuch oftheresearch process waslocalized. Thelinksbetween pureresearch and technological changecouldbeexplored. Theimplications oflabour-saving foreign directinvestment fordeveloping countries shouldbestudied. Andstudies should beundertaken ontransnational corporations andtrade,including theeffects onthe balance ofpayments ofdeveloping countries. 106.TheDirector ofthePolicyAnalysis andResearch Division oftheCentre, in hisconcluding remarks, calledattention tothewidescopeoftheCentre's research activities andtooknoteofthesuggestions madeduringthediscussion. Hestated thatstudying examp1es ofthesuccessful transfer oftechnology bytransnational corporations todeveloping countries wouldbeimportant, butsuchstudies werebest doneinthefieldandrequired extensive resources. ActiontakenbytheCommission 107.TheCommission tooknoteofthereportoftheSecretary-General containing a summary ofselected research studies (E/C.lO/1989/ll) andrequested the
analysis: This text appears to be discussing the transfer of technology to developing countries, the role of transnational corporations, and the impact of new and emerging technologies on international trade, economic development, and intellectual property rights. It also touches on the need for policy-oriented research and technical assistance programs to support this transfer. Given the focus on technology, economic development, and international trade, it is likely that the text is related to the field of science and technology.