Learning from Failure: Case Insights into a UK-India Technology Transfer Project

Abstract

The success of firms in emerging economies like India and China can be generally attributed to their low-cost R&D and manufacturing capabilities, scalable resource pool, and rapidly growing domestic demand. However, in recent times, emerging economy firms have been employing new innovation strategies to morph into higher orbits and drive profitable business growth. Increasingly, many emerging economy firms are deploying their earnings to invest in R&D and to acquire advanced technologies from developed country firms to boost their innovative capability and to drive their global business competitiveness. Drawing on recent literature on international technology transfer, this paper presents a case study of an Indian MNC to provide theoretical and practical insights into the dynamics and process of technology transfer. Lacking strategic orientation is identified as a main missing factor in recent literature.