Technology Cooperation and Capacity Building - CommDev

TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION AND CAPACITY BUILDINGTechnology Cooperation andCapacity Building in Practice▼Introduction to the case studiesOne of the earliest known examples of technology transferinvolving the oil industry occurred when, near the end ofthe 19th century, the Standard Oil Company introducedinto China a lamp, with a tin bowl and a glass chimney, forburning kerosene. The lamp, which became known as meifoo, or beautiful companion, soon became a familiarhousehold object in China, augmenting the limitedsupplies of vegetable and whale oils that had been used forlighting for millennia. These lamps were sold for a fewcents throughout much of Europe, Latin America, Africaand other regions of Asia. As a Standard Oil representativelater wrote: ‘If [petroleum] has brought a fair reward to thecapital ventured in its development, it has also carriedmore cheap comfort into more poor homes than almostany discovery of modern times’. While the languageperhaps reflects the paternalism of a past age, this is animportant illustration of the mutual benefits that can flowfrom making new technology widely available. A desirable‘service’ is provided and a fair ‘profit’ is realized.Today the process involves much more than a one-waytransfer of technology from rich countries to poor ones.Modern technology cooperation takes place between andwithin all types of countries, with a common goal tocontribute towards sustainable development.The case studies that follow have been selected on the basisof geographical distribution and subject area. One of the majorlessons to emerge from the study of technology cooperation isthat almost every attempt at generalization identifies differentand original ways, very much country-specific, of carrying outtechnology cooperation. Accordingly, there is no simple ‘howto’ model that would provide a template for successfulpartnership. Therefore, the case studies that follow focus onthe benefits of partnerships, rather that the complex process ofcreating and maintaining them.Although the operations and practices described in thecase studies, cannot yet be considered universal generalpractice, they do reflect emerging best practices within anincreasing number of companies. Only a sample of theexperiences within the oil industry are included, but thesetell the story of some of the initiatives that contribute tosustainable development by improving the nationaleconomies and surrounding communities’ quality of life,while also contributing to the long-term business successof the companies involved.They show how improved environmental monitoring andprotection, training and education, small business andinfrastructure development, better access to basic necessitiessuch as health care and clean water, as well as the creation ofmajor industries, have made this possible.Since the oil industry is highly technology and capitalintensive, some case studies include examples of thedeployment of sophisticated core technologies whichaddress key challenges facing the oil industry andsociety—the need for increased energy efficiency, reducedemissions, more effective products and processes, and theminimization of environmental impacts. In some of thecase studies, leading edge technologies have been deployedfirst in developing countries because that is where the energyresources are to be found. It is encouraging that throughoutthe industry more and more national employees fromdeveloping countries are becoming the industry’s experts.16