The evolution of technology transfer at MCC´s software technology program: from didactic to dialectic

MCC´s software technology program (STP) has a dual mission: to create tools and methodologies to assist development teams in the design of large, complex, distributed software systems, and to ensure the widespread diffusion of these technologies within STP shareholder organizations. STP has developed a comprehensive set of traditional technology transfer methods; although these methods make it possible to communicate research results successfully to shareholder receptors, they have spurred little actual use of released technology. STP has recently reevaluated its approach to technology transfer and discovered how it can be better accomplished-by fostering collaboration as its chief agent, rather than by depending on traditional transfer-and-feedback mechanisms. The authors describe the evolution of this new approach and present some of the results of collaborative experiences to date. It is found that collaborations revitalize research and that they empower STP´s shareholders to affect the directions of that research