The Role of the Chief Technology Officer

Paper Summary:

The position of the traditional R & D director has evolved into that of the chief technology officer, which is much more broad and encompassing. The paper shows that the primary role of the chief technology officer is to deliver the total value of technology for the corporation, to ensure that the firm has the technologies that it needs to achieve its goals and to facilitate technology transfer across business units. The paper looks at various issues on the subject, including the evolution of this role in the business world, areas of responsibility for the C.T.O. and the future of this field.

From the Paper:

"I believe that the chief technology officer is an important link between government laboratories and U.S. corporations, because one of the primary functions of the CTO is to assess the need to form partnerships with government institutions in order to exploit the total technology capacity of the organization. A government role is also vital in promoting technologies that are critical to economic growth, the creation of good jobs, and meeting the common needs of the nation, but that cannot attract adequate private investment especially in the cases of high technical risks and long payback horizons.
Overall, it is clear that the CTO has a vital role in building a strong U.S. base of fundamental science, and developing a business environment that encourages innovation and investment."

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