Contribution of Addis Ababa Light Railway Project for Technology Transfer Process in Ethiopia
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Date
2016-10
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AAU
Abstract
Technology has gained increasingly importance in achieving the desired development objectives
of a nation. Technology transfer is a process of learning to understand, use and replicate,
including the capacity to select and adapt to local conditions and integrate it with indigenous
technologies for further achievement of technology development and innovation process. In
order to minimize a continuous dependence on foreign finance and technology to respond the
ever growing demand for efficient and modern means of transportation as well as to develop
other basic infrastructures, it is imperative to work strongly on technology transfer process. If the
production frontiers of the country is to expand by increasing labor and capital productivity;
technological advancement has got a vital role to play and without use of technology the desired
level of economic development could not be imagined.
The underlying objective of the study is to assess the contribution of Addis Ababa light rail
transit project for technology transfer process by using the Technology Transfer Life Cycle
model and identified criteria in it since it is a newly introduced technology as city passenger
transportation option and comprises of latest rolling stock with electric traction and train
controlling system which cope up with current international standard gauge of rail way system.
The research used secondary data like feasibility study, conceptual design, contract agreement,
different reports and personnel data of the project archive and primary data like interview and
questionnaire were utilized. Descriptive method was used to analyse the case since the study is
new to Ethiopia and also for that the qualitative data all over the project cycle were utilized.
The result of the analysis indicated that: most of the criteria that contributes to technology
transfer process were not considered; technology supplier selection was biased to financial
issues; there was no technology transfer agreement and plan; there is no systematic and tactical
transfer implementation process to informaly achieve technology transfer; and according to data
obtained from overall project implementation process knowledge and skills were generated like
how to design, select, fix and operate rail way sysytems. The knowledge and skills obtained
following the implementation of the project could be helpful and required to be engaged in work
in a planned way with having a responsible nominees (may be firms or associations). Moreover,
during implementation of public projects technology transfer process would be considerd by
using Technology Transfer Life Cycle model which was used for the purpose of this study and
the identified criteria can contribute to successful technology transfer process.
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Keywords
AA Light Rail Transit project, contribution, technology transfer, technology transfer model