Technology Transfer: An Integrated ‘Culture-Friendly’ Approach

FOR WORKSHOP PAPER This paper describes the ongoing interaction between the York University Technology Centre (YUTC) and Rolls-Royce plc. The mission of the YUTC is to transfer technology, in an integrated manner, existing and novel methods into Rolls-Royce plc in order to achieve improvement in the process of developing aeroengine control systems. The YUTC are principally concerned with the following areas: requirements engineering, reuse, safety case development, timing analysis, process and product metrics. The project has been very successful to date with the YUTC’s costs being recouped by savings within the company, and further potential for payback has been identified. This is in contrast to many other technology transfer initiatives which have failed because academics have not truly understood the industrial domain, have not gained the confidence of the industrial engineers and have not been prepared to perform the technology transfer in a suitable incremental and consultative manner. Dr. B.R. Whittle now works at the British Telecom Laboratories, Martlesham Heath.