Technology and knowledge transfer using manned space flight results to nourish new ground breaking medical research areas: a comparison of reactive and proactive technology transfer processes using two examples of European innovative SMEs
- Paper number
IAC-05-E5.4.04
- Author
Dr. Serge Galant, TECHNOFI, France
- Year
2005
- Abstract
Several European countries have been involved in manned space flights, using either USA or Russian vehicles: dedicated technologies have been developed to help understand the behaviour of the European astronauts during specific experiments designed by expert medical staff and the flight managers. Due to tight budget constraints, the required monitoring technologies were specified by space integrators to facilitate space vehicle integration constraints; but the development and validation of the technologies were performed by Small and Medium size Enterprises (SME) having the required expertise to meet the expected in-flight performances. This is the case for TAM Télésanté (wearable monitoring units for astronauts) and Kayser Thredde (a Three Dimensional Eye Tracking device to monitor vestibulo ocular motions of astronaut’s eyes following dedicated experiments). In 2001, the European Agency and the European Commission (DG Research) decided to support these SMEs in expanding the added value they brought to space flights towards other areas of medical research, thus requiring reactive technology adaptation. In 2005, based on technology adapatation projects, TAM Télésanté is now developing for a group of European SMEs suits with embedded sensors to monitor panel of patients during new drug testing. Kayser Threde is developing for a consortium of SMEs an improved version of the Eye Tracking Device to design better man machine interfaces in the media, car and airplane sectors, including the understanding of “hypo vigilance” states of drivers and airline pilots. This support was brought under the coordination of a management consulting company, TECHNOFI, in order to implement appropriate innovation management techniques to help these SMEs face the technology, market, financial and managerial risks typical of such ventures. The purpose of the present paper is to pinpoint the pros and cons of reactive technology research based on the above case studies, and to emphasize the future role of pro active technology transfer based on innovative SME reactivity, i.e. where space technology development is started based on a priori appraisal of multi sector applications of the technology innovation required first for space use: 1. Technology transfer from public/private supported research is a human learning process, where several players intervene along the innovation cycle: technology enthusiasts for early adoption, visionaries, pragmatists, conservatives, sceptics. Human barriers must be appraised in each of the sectors where space technology can be transferred to meet new needs: a proper appraisal allows more private funds to support space based research. 2. There are key features of the technology adoption cycle which must be taken into account to optimize the impacts of technology transfer mechanisms. 3. Assessing a priori the potential of technology transfer processes must comply with one basic axiom: “one must measure what one values and not value what one measures”. There is a good deal of agreement on measuring a priori the transfer process effectiveness and efficiency; but metrics are rather project specific than general probing tools. 4. Effective technology transfer processes must be able to tackle clearly identified barriers to the implementation of innovative space related technologies. • Micro barriers exist at the project level, specific to different technologies and geographies: they arise from cultural, environmental, financial, human capacity, legal, political, institutional, market and technological factors. These micro barriers can be identified and addressed directly through focused, committed actions from individual stakeholders in each project, with the help of unbiased, expert intermediaries. • Macro barriers must be identified at the policy level. Addressing these macro barriers requires broad, coordinated initiatives from space agencies with the industrial world. The present study will focus on technology transfer techniques addressing micro barriers, since these are those affecting most directly the take-up and implementation of a particular space technology: the use of proactive technology transfer will be highlighted based on barriers met in the above case studies that could have been overcome more efficiently if pro active transfer had been used.
- Abstract document