Technology transfer in the Italian space industry: organizational issues and determinants

Purpose – In today’s competitive market, organizations are increasingly aware of the need to exchange the technologies, experience and knowledge they have developed in order to access new markets and revenue streams. They also recognize the need to acquire new technologies and knowledge from the external environment in order to exploit their ideas and create new products. Technology transfer (TT) is defined as the process for the passing and subsequent use of technology, expertise, know-how or facilities for a purpose not originally intended by the developing organization. Above all, the transfer of space technology is recognized as complex, even though it is increasingly adopted: space technologies can, for example, be adopted for healthcare products, improved waste management and water recovery, as well as by manufacturers. Notwithstanding, few studies have focused on the TT process inside the space sector. The purpose of this paper is to verify which process and what determinants result in the transfer of space technologies to other industrial sectors. Design/methodology/approach – This study has the final aim of developing the model of a transfer path suitable for the space industry. Specifically, the authors investigated two cases of TT, which have been promoted by an Italian systems integration company and supported by the National Research Council (CNR) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI). Findings – From an organizational viewpoint, some main differences related to the TT path emerge. Regarding the determinants, the study confirms other studies, i.e. that the most important determinants are the integrability, flexibility and high reliability of the technology, the availability of financial resources, followed by the technological versatility, and the level of R&D competences and knowledge of the receiver organization. Originality/value – The technological innovation literature has, as yet, paid little attention to the TT process into non-space areas from the space sector. In order to fill this gap, the paper contributes to broadening the knowledge base on the determinants for TT success in the space sector.