The Chinese Online Writing Lab

1.11 Seeking technical cooperation

Dear Mr. Brown,

Miss Jones suggested that I contact you regarding your company's automotive products. It is our understanding that your company specializes in the manufacturing of automotive gear boxes.

Intentions of technical cooperation

We would be pleased if you would introduce your current developments and specific product data.

Your organization

Our organization, Mechanical Industrial Rensearch Institute (MIRL), is a subsidiary of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). The primary responsibilities of MIRL are to improve industrial productivity and seek technology sources for the R.O.C.

Your program

We are currently involved in a gear box development program aimed at seeking foreign partners who are capable of developing gear boxes or can engage in a technical cooperative program with automotive manufacturers in the R.O.C

Technologies to be developed

The major items of technology to be developed are:
1. Key components that conform to domestic auto specifications
2. New gear box technology for domestic auto manufacturers
3. The latest technology in transmission design, manufacturing, assembly and testing
4. Cost effective production systems
Please let me know if there are any areas of common interest you would like to discuss.

Sincerely yours,

Writing exercise

Seeking technical cooperation.
Using 1.11 as a model, write a letter seeking technical cooperation with a company overseas. Be sure to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Mentioned who referred you to their company and state your interest in technical cooperation.
• Briefly describe your organization and its' primary objectives.
• Introduce your program and the major items to be developed.

1.12 Seeking technical cooperation (follow-up to 1.11)

Dear Mr. Brown,

Acknowledgement of information received

Thank you for your organization's product information. I believe that your products will be quite helpful in our current transmission project.

Project background and objective(s)

A new facility is to be established in Taiwan to design, develop and produce auto transmission parts. Therefore, we are seeking partners for technical cooperation through licensing and joint venture agreements.

How to initiate cooperation

Further discussion and a possible visit by members of ITRI to your production facility would seem to be the appropriate next step. If this seems agreeable with you, please advise us on the convenient timing for such a visit. My name card is enclosed for your reference.

I am anxiously looking forward to your favorable reply.

Sincerely yours,

1.13 Seeking technical cooperation

Dear Ms. Smith,

Your organization's confidence in their product capability

After reviewing your product information, which was brought back by our engineer (Mr. Chang) from Gear Expo '91, I think that your CNC controlled machines for Polygon turning, profiling, chamfering, milling and gear cutting can be utilized for our current project involving automobile transmission production.

Information request

Since we seek a more detailed understanding of your product line, we would like preliminary specifications for your machines applications. More specifically, how are these machines integrated in a flexible system? A VCR tape for briefing purposes would allow us to view the machine's characteristics before we discuss our implementations with you. In addition, please provide us with a list of other companies that already use your products. As soon as we receive the above information, we would also like to arrange a visit to your production facility to observe the performance of your advanced products.

Brief introduction

Our organization, Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories (MIRL), is a subsidiary of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which was established by the Republic of China (R.O.C.) Government. We are anxious to develop long-lasting cooperative relationships with manufacturers such as yours.

Sincerely yours,

Writing exercise

Seeking technical cooperation.
Using 1.13 as a model, write a letter seeking technical coopertion with an overseas company. Be sure to adhere to the following guidelines:

• State how you heard of their company, and express your confidence in the outcome of the technical cooperation.
• Request further literature or audiovisual information regarding the company's manufacturing capabilities, along with a list of companies who have used their products.
• Briefly introduce your organization and describe its interest in intentions of technical cooperation.

1.14 Seeking technical cooperation (shorter version)

Dear Mr. Brown,

Inquiry into the company's previous experience

Before discussing the "ballpark value" of this cooperative agreement, we would like to learn more about your experience assisting other companies' technology transfer programs. Could you provide us with some references regarding the work you have done and the subsequent results attained? Also, could you give us a rough estimate of how long this project would take and the results we should expect to obtain? Thanks in advance for your assistance.

Sincerely,

NOTE:

Seeking technical cooperation 洽詢技術合作 belongs to letters that involve technical cooperation.

Common elements in correspondence that involves technical cooperation include:

Stating your organization's intention of seeking cooperation

Simply stating the motivation behind your organization's desire to form a cooperative relationship with another organization helps avoid future confusion. Examples are provided below:
"I'd like to propose a technological information exchange between our two organizations regarding environmental pollution prevention-waste minimization."
"We are seeking potential licensors of the Autoclaved Lightweight Concrete (ALC) product technology on behalf of local manufacturers in Taiwan, R.O.C."
"In addition to our in-house R&D, we are also considering the possibility of technology transfer, from a foreign company, of a technology that is ready for (or close to) commercialization and that is already under patent protection."
"We are currently involved in a gear box development program and are seeking foreign partners who are capable of developing gear boxes or who can engage in a cooperative technical program with automotive manufacturers in the R.O.C."
"We are anxious to develop long-lasting cooperative relationships with manufacturers such as yours."
"We recognize that the continued sucess of our work depends on our sharing and exchanging experience with similar organizations."

Giving background information about your organization (e.g., mission ,major activities, and achievements)

Providing background information about your organization allows the other party to know whether your interests and expertise are compatible with theirs:
"Our organization, Mechanical Industry Research Laboratories (MIRL), is a subsidiary of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI) established by the government of the Republic of China(R.O.C)."
"One of our missions is to aid the local industrial sector by upgrading technology levels. One of our strategies is to license technology from abroad."
"The experimental results generated so far in this project have already been most helpful in Taiwan's environmental protection work."

Providing suggestions on how to initiate cooperation

"I am looking forward to hearing your ideas or suggestions regarding this information exchange opportunity. I would also like to arrange for a ten-day technical visit to your organization this upcoming May as the initial step of our cooperation."
"If you are interested in licensing this technology, please send the above mentioned information to the above address for evaluation."
"Further discussion, or a possible visit by members of ITRI to your production facility, would seem to be the appropriate next step."
"I suggest that ABC Corporation send a technical expert to UCL before the end of July and give a presentation, regarding the product development of this technology, to our scientists and technical staff."
"Please let me know if there are any areas of common interest you would like to discuss."

Commending the achievements and reputation of an organization

Sincerely acknowledging or commending the other party's success in a particular technology expresses your intention to contribute toward as well as learn from the collaborative relationship:
"Your corporation has a long tradition of providing outstanding engineering TP (e.g., Noryl) that has various properties and excellent quality."
"ABC Corporation is recognized as the global leader in developing, producing and marketing transdermal drug delivery systems."
"ABC's Biotechnology Group has developed some interesting products that we would like to understand in more detail before reaching the licensing stage."
"Stat-Rite 2300 is an excellent anti-static polymer that blends well with other thermoplastics and can be used in ESD applications. We believe that this permanent anti-static plastic has a strong market potential, especially in light of the emerging electronics industry in Taiwan."

Describe the reason(s) for technical cooperation

More than merely attempting to describe your company's interest, try to outline specific plans or describe what has been achieved so far:
"A new facility is to be established in Taiwan to design, develop and produce auto transmission parts. Therefore, we are seeking partners for technical cooperation through licensing and joint venture agreements."
"We are currently involved in a gear box development program and are seeking foreign partners who are capable of developing gear boxes or who can engage in a cooperative technical program with automotive manufacturers in the R.O.C.