This course examines the notion of technology transfer, how it has taken place over the past two centuries, and how it has been shaped by the emergence of big business.

Lectures & seminars to be arranged

- 1250 word course concept essay 25%
- 3750 word course content essay 75%

■ Review the historiographical debate about technology transfer in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries

■ Assess how technological advance and market power affect technology transfer

■ Assess the impact of the international patent system on inter-firm co-operation and on technology transfer

■ Offer an opportunity of developing broader analytical and inter-disciplinary skills through the use and interpretation of statistical data sets and other primary material

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ Critically assess the role of technology transfer in the international spread of industry

■ Broadly evaluate how market structure affects the costs and successful adoption of borrowed technology

■ Critically assess how the international patent system may influence the transfer and adoption of technology

■ Critically evaluate primary material, notably statistical data sets and official publications

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components of the course's summative assessment.