Leveraging a Public Infrastructure Project as a Driver for Technology Development – A Case Study on a Technology Transfer Model for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Development Project

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume IV, Issue VIII, August 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186

Leveraging a Public Infrastructure Project as a Driver for Technology Development – A Case Study on a Technology Transfer Model for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Development Project

Abdul Rahman Hamdan^1*, Dr. Mohamad Syazli Fathi², Professor Emeritus Dr. Zainai Mohamed³

 Ph.D Candidate¹, Ph.D^2,3
Razak Faculty of Technology and Informatics, University Teknologi Malaysia
*Corresponding Author

Abstract: In realizing the strategic leverage large public procurement has on technol- ogy development, several countries have introduced technology transfer programs within strategic public procurement to develop the capability of their local industries. This pa- per uses a mix-method analysis of qualitative and quantitative data from a case study of a technology transfer model in a public rail infrastructure project in Malaysia. For the quantitative analysis, a total of 202 respondents from the contractors and consultants have participated in the survey. The results of the analysis show that the critical success factors for determining the technology outcome of the KVMRT Technology Transfer program are “Technology Transfer Planning”, “Transfer Environment” and “Learning Environment”. The study concludes that the factor most influencing the outcome is “Learning Environ- ment”. Based on the findings, recommendations were made to improve the technology transfer process for similar future rail projects. The study recommendations include (1) Improvement of the current government policy on Technology Transfer, (2) Focusing on innovation as one of the main criteria for a successful TT outcome, (3) Digitalization of the TT Process and (4) Establishment of a Technology Transfer Office (TTO) within a government strategic procurement project.

Keywords: Technology Transfer; Technology Transfer Model; Structural Equation Mod- eling; Knowledge Transfer; Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Project.

Running Head: Leveraging a Public Infrastructure Project as a Driver for Technology Development – A Case Study on a Technology Transfer Model for the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit Development Project.

I. INTRODUCTION

Based on the OECD study, most developing countries leverage their public procurement as a strategic method of securing technology development and innovation for their country (Appelt et al., 2016). Public infrastructure devel- opment projects have always provided a dynamic and complex environment in which technology transfer and innova- tion can occur in various ways.

Read More