Technology Transfer for Women Entrepreneurs: Issues for Consideration

Abstract

This article focuses on the introduction of ’improved’ technologies into women’s enterprises. From a short review of activities and information, it concludes that the main bottleneck is not so much the development or adaptation of machines, but rather the dissemination of improved technologies to women. The success of such technology dissemination is determined by the appropriateness (such as business economic appropriateness) and the accessibility of technology. Establishing appropriateness requires forms of feasible research, linkages between suppliers and intended users (including market-based linkages), and an iterative process. Three of the barriers to achieving appropriateness are: traditional performance indicators, institutional characteristics of the technology institutes, and gender issues in these institutions.

The article then discusses how accessibility of a technology requires adequate information, financing, training, organization, as well as the availability of hardware. Finally, the time dimension should be taken into account: all requirements for successful technology dissemination should also be in place in future, in order to achieve a sustainable technology development.