Technology transfer fees in non-IT sector up sharply: report

SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Yonhap) -- Technology transfer fees earned by government-invested
laboratories in the non-information technology (IT) sector rose three-fold in the
past four years, a government report said Monday.

The report by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said earnings generated by 12
laboratories in the non-IT sector shot up from 8.5 billion won (US$7.3 million)
in 2005 to 24.2 billion won in 2009.
The rise caused the proportion of non-IT earnings to reach 43.0 percent of all
technology fees up from just 16.4 percent tallied four years earlier. Last year,
the country earned 56.4 billion won worth in overall technology fees of which
32,2 billion came from IT fields such as electronics and communications.
It said the growth of non-IT earnings reflect greater demand for locally
developed technology and knowhow in such areas as electricity, transportation,
general machinery and power generation areas.
The findings did not include earnings generated by Electronics and
Telecommunications Research Institute which has helped the country become a
global leader in the IT industry and earns considerable amount of money through
royalties arrangements.
The latest findings, in addition, showed high research and development
productivity growth by the cited laboratories and agencies indicating good return
on investments made.
The ministry, meanwhile, said all technology-related earning may reach around
58.0 billion won this year, and speculated that ETRI may be able to generate more
earnings if it wins ongoing legal actions for alleged infringements of its third
generation mobile communications technology.
It said that greater attention will be paid to train experts that can facilitate
technology transfers.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)

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