Technology transfer through international joint ventures: the case of gamma

Technology transfer through international joint ventures is considered important to enhance competitiveness, exploit opportunities and boost economic growth. A common observation is, however, that such ventures often fail. Present insights regarding transfer processes, influencing factors, and relationships between technology transfer and venture success — if any — are modest. This paper reports on a failing German–Russian joint venture established to exploit new business opportunities, where transfer of technology was perceived crucial to success. It was observed that the technology transfer as such was successful, even though the transferring firm sustained monetary loss and worsened its competitive situation.