Fall 2014 - 62416 - PA680PA - Policy Research Project

Technology Transfer, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Development

The Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs (LBJ School), through its RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service (the RGK Center), is working with National Instruments (NI), based in Austin, Texas, to conduct three experiments in facilitating technology transfer to encourage entrepreneurship and economic development in Indonesia, Malaysia, and a yet-to-be-named nation in Africa. The three comparative cases will facilitate investments respectively through an existing NI research center (Malaysia), cooperation with an existing NI office (Indonesia), and via a de-novo local entrepreneurship program (in Africa).

This project offers an opportunity for graduate students to develop skills as ‘consultants’ to assist a variety of institutions (including non-profit organizations, for-profit firms, university research centers and government agencies). Students will operate within an interdisciplinary team and class members can expect to provide different management consulting services on issues of organizational development, technology innovation and transfer, strategy, marketing, finance, human resources, development, fundraising, and sustainability for client organizations. One goal of the experiments is to facilitate the creation of innovative small and medium size enterprises and startups as key contributors to the socioeconomic development of emerging countries, because such entrepreneurial efforts generate new and high-value jobs and impact positively local communities. A second goal of the class is to evaluate how such investments in entrepreneurship affect regional development. Students will be trained to and receive mentoring on the photography and editing of documentaries.