A comparative perspective on the problems and issues of the transfer of knowledge and technology in and between western and former socialist countries, focusing on three key technologies: laser technology, biotechnology, and information technology. The book highlights the specific challenges facing economies in transition in technology policy and commercialisation. Furthermore, it gives an excellent insight into current technology forecasting practice and methodology, and the use of forecasting results in framing science and technology policy.
Audience: Those involved in science and technology policy and forecasting, such as industrial and governmental policy makers and researchers.

Zusammenfassung
Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop, Budapest, Hungary, October 12-14, 1995

Inhalt
I: Knowledge Transfer in Biotechnology.- Knowledge Transfer and Biotechnology The Case of Europe's Large Multinationals.- Knowledge Transfer in Biotechnology The Case of Germany.- Redefining Transfer in Biotechnology and Software Multiple Creation of Knowledge and Issues of Ownership.- II - Diffusion of Laser Technology.- Diffusion of Laser Technology.- Diffusion of Hungarin Laser Technology.- Diffusion of Medical Lasers in The Netherlands.- Progress of Laser Technologies in Belarus.- III - Information Technology.- Before the Glass Mountain The Challenge of Data Networks and Telework for Central and Eastern Europe.- Sociotechnical Alignment in the Intra-Organisational Diffusion of Information Technology.- Information Technology Culture Dissemination in Romania Experiments and Achievements.- Geographic Information Systems in Hungary.- IV - Foresight Methods and Exercises.- The Highly Probable Future 83 Assumptions about the Year 2025.- Foresight in Science and Technology Selected Methodologies and Recent Activities in Germany.- The United Kingdom Technology Foresight Programme.- The Present State, Foresight and Development Prospects of Technology in Russia.- On Energy Security of Russia and Europe.- Annex: List of Participants.