Using Idea-2-Product Labs® as a strategy for accelerating technology transfer

Technology transfer poses particular problems to developing countries whose governments cannot always afford to fund expensive high-tech solutions. This article reports on the Idea 2 Product Labs® concept that was developed in South Africa to offer a low-cost open-source alternative. The motivation behind the work was to put innovative new technologies into the hands of more people within a shorter timeframe than would otherwise be possible. The background, planning, objectives, outcomes and impact of the project are reported together with some conclusions on how this model could be adopted across a wider domain.