National technological capability and its relation to technology transfer: The case of Turkish manufacturing industry

The main emphasis of the study is that developing countries cannot substantiate national technological efforts sufficient due to their poverty; hence they need a development process based on technology transfer. In this context, the relationship between technology transfer and national technological capability is examined theoretically; and country experiences which were developed their capabilities based on technology transfer are analyzed. The study analyzes the existing state of Turkey's economy, and highlights the need for policy of learning-based technology transfer to develop technological skills nationally. Moving from this point, suggestions are presented towards the development of Turkish manufacturing industry?s technological capacity and competences on the basis of technology transfer. Suggestions are grouped into three set of issues as follows: Suggestions for: I) selection and acquisition of technology; ii) learning from transferred technology; and iii) developing transferred technology and realizing its national production. Keywords: Technology transfer, technological capability and learning, Turkish manucaturing industry