POSSIBLE ELEMENTS FOR
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
NETWORKS AND MATCHING
SYSTEMS
I.F. Vladu
Sustainable Development Programme
Technology Sub-programme
UNFCCC
Beijing, China
19 April 2002
1
OBJECTIVE




IAEA
Describe some of the work done on a technology
transfer network.
Present options to use the Internet for establishing
the network.
Describe an peer to peer implementation of the
network
Present a prototype used as a proof of concepts
I.F. Vladu
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MANDATE

IAEA
The secretariat was requested, inter alia, to:

“...consult with GEF and other international organizations and
solicit information on their capabilities to support the work of (an)
international technology information centre(s) as well as national
and regional centres…” (Decision 9/CP.3).

“To accelerate its work on the development of a technology
transfer information clearing house by coordinating with Parties
and relevant United Nations agencies and other international
organizations and institutions, and developing options for
implementation, in particular, networking of an international
technology information clearing house under the Convention, and
enhancement of technology information centres and networks.”
(Decision 4/CP.7).

To continue its work on the technology information system,...; and
to explore the feasibility of including information on private and
publicly-owned technologies, joint research and development
programmes, examples of success stories and case studies on
technology transfer (FCCC/SBSTA/2001/8);
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TECHICAL PAPER AND NETWORKS
= BARRIER
= OPPORTUNITY
Clearing house
KNOWLEDGE
INSTITUTION
GOVERNMENT
GOVERNMENT
A
B
NGOs
NGOs
PRIVATE
COMPANY
FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION
International
International
TT
TT
centre
Center
International
International
TT sectoral
TT Sectoral
centre
Center
Regional
Regional
TT
TT
centre
Center
National
National
TT
TT
centre
Center
National
National
TT
TT
centre
Center
IGOs
IGOs
PRIVATE
COMPANY
National
National
TT
TT
centre
Center


A technology transfer network should targets experts from all of the
stakeholders involved in the technology transfer process.
Technical paper proposals:
 Create a true type network structure (avoid hierarchical structure).
 Establish focal points and sectoral coverage by different international
organizations. Seek their agreement in participating and and formalize the
cooperation through a letter of understanding.
IAEA
 Establish a network management mechanism.
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IDENTIFYING EXITING CENTRES

Collected data on 67 technology
transfer information centers and 63
coastal zone centers. Follow-up:
 update information and invite
participation in network?
 Discuss institutional arrangements
for centres
 Explore options for using the Internet
to establish the network of centres
IAEA
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OPTIONS FOR USING THE INTERNET
1. Client-server
2. Web-based
GEF - Project MAP
TT:CLEAR
CADDET
(web, database)
Web Browser


IAEA
Network applications have been built
primarily hierarchical, following the
client-server model.
Client-server applications once
required homogeneous client and
server systems and provided limited
or no interoperability between
applications.


The World Wide Web made client-server
computing commonly available through
the acceptance of a universal client (Web
browser) that uses a standard
communication protocol (HTTP), that can
display information described in a
standard format (HTML).
Supports heterogeneous clients and
servers and connected to a Web server
with a known location and name.
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OPTIONS FOR USING THE INTERNET
3. Peer-to-Peer (P2P)



IAEA
Returning to the roots of how the Internet is built, in p2p networks users can
interact with each other directly, without involving a Web server, chat room
arbitrator, or bulletin board system (doesn’t necessarily require a set of clients and
servers in a hierarchical relationship).
Offers an intuitive model for the most fundamental Internet activities: searching and
sharing.
Tomorrow applications can focus on: instant messaging, resources sharing, P2P
searches, matchmaking systems (buyers/sellers).
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JXTA – A POSSBILE OPTION FOR TT:NETWORK
(e.g. TT:NETWORK)
(e.g. JXTA Search)

What is JXTA?





IAEA
An open network programming platform for P2P computing.
A set of protocols for interoperating (XML-based).
Language and network agnostic technology.
Virtual network overlay.
Fully open source project at http://www.jxta.org.
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POSSIBLE SEARCH ARHITECTURE ON
TT:NETWORK
Communication over the
network is performed via an
XML protocol called the
Query Routing Protocol
(QRP). The QRP defines
mechanisms for sending
and responding to queries
in the JXTA Search
network, as well as
mechanisms for
JXTA
defining meta-data
Peer
for nodes in the
network.
JXTA
Peer
Registration Request
from Provider to Hub
Request for
Registration File
Resolver
Provider Service

Response from
Provider to Hub
JXTA Input Pipe
JXTA Output Pipe
JXTA
Peer
Hub Service
Query from Hub
to Provider
Router

IAEA
The network consists of the
following participants:
 Information Providers.
 Information Consumers.
 Information Hubs.
Query from
Consumer to Hub
Response from
Hub to Consumer
JXTA
Peer
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POSSIBLE SEARCH ARHITECTURE ON
TT:NETWORK (cont.)


IAEA
Actors:
 Search hubs: IGOs, existing
regional and national
centers
 Consumers: Parties,
organization, private
businesses
 Provides: private
businesses, knowledge
institutions, regional and
national centres
The Benefits of a Distributed
Approach:
 Speed of update
 Access
 Efficiency
UNFCCC,
other IGOs
Hub
JXTA
Peer
Existing
regional and
national
centers
Hub
JXTA
Peer
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VARIOUS SOFTWARE OPTIONS
Different actors
*
TOMCAT *
Web
Search
PROVIDER
TOMCAT *
TT
Router
TT
Web provider
*
TT
TT
Browser
MyJXTA
* Options tested in
the prototype
Example on next
slides
Private business
User
Private business
*
db Adapter
Resolver
IAEA
Java provider
TOMCAT
Centers
Shell User
HUB
Centers
Center
Software developer
CONSUMER
MyJXTA
TT
Database or XML file?
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PROTOTYPE IMPLEMENTATION - HUB AND
INFORMATION PROVIDER

Developed and tested with China centre

UNFCCC Hub
 Running on the existing Tomcat
web server.
 Two services are implemented on
the hub: Router and Resolver
IAEA

UNFCC Provider
 Implemented as stand alone Java
program
 The provider is accessing
TT:CLEAR databases to prepare
answers to queries dispatched to
him by the hub
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PROTOTYPE IMPLEMENTATION - CONSUMER



IAEA
The consumer was implemented
using JSPs and servelts and was
integrated in TT:CLEAR (Network
menu)
Clients can customize several search
papameters such as number of hits
per page, number of providers,
maximum number of results per
provider, etc.
The client’s preferences are stored in
a local database
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PROTOTYPE IMPLEMENTATION - CONSUMER

IAEA
Result of the P2P search
containing projects from
TT:CLEAR displayed on the
client.

XML answer form the provider.
This answer is sent via the hub to
the client
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PROTOTYPE IMPLEMENTATION - INSTANT
MESSAGE AND FILE SHARING




IAEA
Creation of a separate
peer group for (ttclear)
Instant message
session in ttclear peer
group (running under
Linux)
In addition to
exchanging instant
messages, the
application may be
used for file sharing
and (file) searching
An efficient tool to
deliver expert advice
form a network of
experts
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CONCLUSIONS


IAEA
Development and dissemination of adequate tools
and software will play an important role in enhancing
existing technology information centres and in
establishing the technology transfer network.
P2P networks, such as the one illustrated in this
presentation, may provide a way forward for settingup an the technology transfer network and for
involving the private sector in the network.
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Thank you!
IAEA
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