On technological change, transfer and business characteristics: Some inferences from twelve case studies emanating from the national engineering laboratory

This paper examines two vital issues associated with technology transfer; what types of firms most rapidly adopt new technologies and what types of market structures and demand conditions are most conducive to technical change? The analysis is effected via the cases of twelve firms associated with the National Engineering Laboratory (NEL) whose contribution as an innovation facilitator was seen to vary from case to case. The bulk of the cases seem to support Schmookler's (1967) view that innovation is stimulated by perceived profits. The firms in the sample were tending to operate in rivalrous supply conditions and were engaged in innovation with a view to either maintaining market share or gaining a competitive advantage.