Technology transfer: diffusion or translation?

Abstract

There can be little doubt that over the last three decades diffusion theory has had a major impact on a large number of disciplines. However diffusion theory is but one way of thinking about 'technology transfer', and here we present an alternative view-namely the notion of translation embodied in actor-network theory (ANT). We believe ANT offers ways of thinking about transfer problems that diffusion metaphors fail to adequately address. Using a retrospective analysis of a case study, we examine and contrast key concepts of these two approaches to technology transfer.