The Chinese Online Writing Lab

1.5 Seeking technology licensors (formal-first contact)

Ms. Jones,

Your intentions to seek a technology licensor

We are seeking potential licensors of the Autoclaved Lightweight Concrete (ALC) product technology on behalf of local manufacturers in Taiwan, R.O.C. The current demand for ALC materials, which are both lightweight and fire-proof, has been rapidly increasing in Taiwan. Several companies are highly interested in manufacturing ALC locally.

Your organization's role in the technology transfer

We at Union Chemical Laboratories (UCL) help these companies evaluate and obtain production technology.

Background information

UCL is one of the laboratories of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), which is the largest non-profit research organization in Taiwan,`R.O.C. One of the goals is to help the local industrial sector upgrade its technology. Our strategy is to upgrade technology through technology licensing.

If you are interested in licensing ALC technology, please contact us. Don't hesitate to call or write us should you have any questions. Your assistance is appreciated..

Sincerely,

Writing exercise

Seeking a technology licensor.

Using 1.5 as a model, write a letter seeking a licensor of a technology that your organization would like to use or to introduce to other companies in Taiwan. Be sure to adhere to the following guidelines:

• State your intention to license a particular technology.
• Briefly describe your interest in the technology.
• Clarify the role of your organization in this proposed technology licensing agreement. 　

1.6 Seeking technology licensors (relatively informal)

Dear John,

Informal reference to previous relationship

I am glad to hear that lots of good things have happened at ABC Corporation since I left the company in May of 1991.

Your organization

Union Chemical Laboratories (UCL), the organization I am currently working with, has been entrusted by the R.O.C. Government to develop key technologies that can upgrade Taiwan's chemical industries. UCL is highly interested in developing diagnostic kits that utilize biotechnological reagents, such as the nucleic acid gene probe.

Interest in receiving technology transfer

In addition to our in-house R&D, we are also considering the possibility of transfer from a foreign company of a technology that is ready for or close to commercialization, and that is already under patent protection. ABC's Biotechnology Group has developed some interesting products that we would like to know more about before reaching the licensing stage.

Plan for initiating the relationship

I suggest that ABC send a technical expert to UCL before the end of July to give a presentation to our scientists and technical staff. Because our product/technique evaluation results were so positive, we are excited about the possibility of forming a strategic alliance comprised of the ROC Government, UCL, local companies, and ABC Corporation to co-develop these products. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Writing exercise

Seeking a technology licensor.

Using 1.6 as a model, write a letter seeking a licensor of a technology that your organization would like to use or to introduce to the local industrial sector. Be sure to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Refer to your organization's previous relationship with the company.
• Describe your current project and your interest in a technology transfer from abroad.
• Commend the reader's company on its reputation for developing such products.

1.7 Expressing the desire to license a foreign-owned technology

Dear Mr. Brown,

Acknowledge previous correspondence

Thank you for your letter dated August 24th. We are pleased to hear that ABC Corporation is considering licensing ALC technology to a company in Taiwan. Union Chemical Laboratories (UCL) is a non-profit organization that receives partial funding from the ROC Government.

Your organization's involvement in the project

The project we are currently involved in aims at assisting local companies obtain the license to manufacture ALC technology in Taiwan. Our assistance, which includes obtaining information on government regulations and/or financial support, and helping to seek potential lands, should expedite the negotiation process. Therefore, UCL's involvement will benefit both parties, ABC Corporation and the local company.

Offering further assistance

Please provide us with any pertinent information (name/phone number) on the company in question so that we can better assist this technology transfer. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated.

Sincerely yours,

Writing exercise

Transferring a technology.

Using 1.7 as a model, write a letter expressing the desire to expedite the licensing of a foreign-owned technology to a company in Taiwan. Be sure to adhere to the following guidelines:

• Acknowledge their previous correspondence and commend their interest in licensing the technology.
• Clarify the role of your organization in this technology transfer.
• Request further information and offer your assistance as a facilitator.

1.8 A response to a letter expressing a desire to license a foreign-owned technology

Dear Dr. Smith,

Thank you for your fax, dated September 16, which provided a thorough answer to my question regarding recovery scrubber technology.

Your response to their previous correspondence

I have already requested that Mr. Tang, Editor of Industrial Waste Minimization, a bi-monthly magazine, introduce your technology in that publication. Industrial Waste Minimization Bimonthly Magazine is issued by the Waste Exchange Information Center (WEIC) of Union Chemical Laboratories (UCL) of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI). The magazine has more than 3,000 subscribers among factories, businesses, engineering consultants, academics, and other interested parties

I encourage you to write to Mr. John Lin, Director of the Taiwan Environmental Engineering Association, and express your intention to transfer your technology to Taiwan ROC. This Association has some 370 members, many of whom have already successfully transferred environmental technologies from abroad. Mr. Lin's address is
4th Fl., 6, Lane 59, I Tung Street
Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C,
Tel: (02) 123456
Fax: (02) 234567

Offer further assistance

If you would like to provide more information about, say, flow charts, chemical compositions, or profit analyses, please send any such materials to Mr. Tang at:
UCL, ITRI
321 Sec. 2 Kuang Fu Road
Hsinchu, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Tel: (035) 345678
Fax: (035) 456789

Future correspondence regarding this matter should be addressed to Mr. Tang. Thanks again for your interest.

Best Regards.
Sincerely,

NOTE:

Seeking technology licensors 與技術授權公司洽商 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.