The Multinational Enterprise and Restrictive Conditions in International Technology Transfer: Some New Australian Evidence

Abstract

The paper reports the results of a survey of 393 Australian firms regarding their access to overseas-sourced technology and the extent and nature of restrictions attached to technology transfer. The results suggest that Australian firms are not generally subject to widespread binding restrictions attached to technology sourced from overseas. Furthermore, with the exception of restrictions on technology re-licensing, there is no significant difference between foreign- and domestically-owned firms in the incidence of restrictions. THIS NOTE reports the results of a survey of 393 Australian firms, both domestic and foreign-owned enterprises in the manufacturing, mining and construction sectors, regarding their access to overseas technology and the extent and nature of restrictions attached to technology transfer. Information was obtained on the access to overseas technology by a sample of innovating companies in Australian industry. The information covers the extent of general access to overseas-sourced know-how and the importance of restrictions attached to overseas-sourced know-how. The sample includes subsidiaries of foreign firms (based on a specified definition of an overseas controlling interest) as well as domestically-owned firms. Details of the sample are set out in the Appendix.