Abstract EN:

Since 1970 the small and medium sized enterprises (smes) join in international investments and technology transfer. The international involment of smes would seem to increase the options for obtaining technology especially for the least developed countries. Moreover, exports of technology by smes are likely to be more adapted to the needs of the developing countries. Technology transfer by smes may also offer apportunties to obtain different kind of technology, possible of a smaller scale or lower capital intensity, or to producing a less sophisticated product. The above advantages may to some extent be counterbalanced by some characteristics and modes operation which limit smes contribution. Sme lack such financial, human, technical and managerial resources as well as the ability to collect the relevant information on technological opportunities. The limited information collected from sme in the alpes maritimes who export to morrocco suggests that the contribution of sme to technology transfer has not been significant. Aside from occasional transactions such as patent sales or licencing sme's involvement in a lasting relationship in a different and distant environment has been constrained by their own structural limitations in terms of financial ans human resources.