The development and evaluation of an improved Cloverleaf Model for the assessment of technology readiness for commercialisation

Abstract

Technology commercialisation is the process that converts technology that was developed for the government, e.g., defence technology, to commercial use, thereby benefiting the wider community. As technology commercialisation is a high risk and expensive process, care must be taken to commercialise only those technologies with the best chances for success. Heslop, McGregor & Grifith [1] developed the Cloverleaf Model to assess technology readiness for commercialisation. This model is evaluated and improved for use in the South African environment.Die kommersialisering van tegnologie is die proses waardeur tegnologie wat ontwikkel is vir die Staat, byvoorbeeld verdedigingstegnologie, omgeskakel word vir kommersiële gebruik tot voordeel van die breër gemeenskap. Aangesien tegnologie-kommersialisering 'n hoë-risiko en duur proses is, moet net daardie tegnologieë gekommersialiseer word wat die beste kanse vir sukses het. Heslop, McGregor & Grifith [1] het die Cloverleaf Model vir die assessering van tegnologie-gereedheid vir kommersialisering ontwikkel. Hierdie model is ge-evalueer en verbeter vir gebruik in die Suid-Afrikaanse omgewing.