National Technology Associations
Technology Associations & Their Core Interests
[Hardware] [Software] [Telecommunications] [Biotechnology]
A
review of the role of technology associations in many countries from developing
to the most developed reveals that associations are an integral part of progress
for national communications infrastructure, government policy and business
development. However, the core needs of technology associations are different
depending on their market segment and purpose. The following section reviews the
priorities of hardware, software, telecommunications, and biotechnology
associations. The majority of large technology associations represent the
interests of each of the four segments.
Members
of hardware associations are in the technology segment that produces the
physical components that deliver software. Product categories include: computer
audio and visual accessories, computer switch boxes, computer fans, internet
appliances, computer memory, computer modems, monitors, motherboards, computer
peripherals, computer printers, printer supplies, computer enclosures, computer
servers, and digital storage devices.
In
the U.S., the American Electronics
Association (AEA) is the largest and most diverse organization representing
more than 3,000 companies and focusing on core association services such as access
to investors, state, federal and international lobbying, insurance services,
government procurement, business networking, foreign market access, select
business services, and executive education. In countries with a less developed
computer hardware industry, these manufacturers join associations that serve all
hard good manufactures when a technology specific hardware association is not
available.
Software
associations are focused on technology companies that produce, market and sell
software products and services. Content developers and packagers of the software
have different needs and the associations accommodate the unique issues they
face in developing standards, efficiencies, legal protections and benefits and
business growth.
Association
sub-segments have formed to address the interests of very specific target
markets such as database, game and entertainment, enterprise, and shareware
developers. The programming side of the software industry—language
development—associates for information sharing and market development of these
new languages. Additionally, software associations may exist just to advance the
profession such as engineering societies with programs solely devoted to
recognize the contributions of individuals or to promote the higher education
system for training in software development skills.
Software
associations are responding to the new realities of the global software industry
as exemplified by the following summary by Professor Erran Carmel of American
University’s Kogod School of Business:
“Once
concentrated in a few industrialized nations, software work (for software
R&D, embedded software, IT services, and information systems) is
now diffusing all over the globe…Software and systems work is being parsed,
sliced, disaggregated and tasked to units in various nations. This means that
firms are now developing software in multiple countries through collaborative
efforts. It is common to find software professionals, say, in London, or Tel
Aviv, developing a software product in collaboration with a team in Silicon
Valley. It is common to find a team of Indian software developers supporting IT
applications for a Fortune 100 firm in New York City.”[i]
An
association on the cutting edge of responding to this global reality for
software development and services is India’s NASSCOM
(National Association of Software and Service Companies). NASSCOM’s vision
is to, “…establish India as the 21st century’s software powerhouse and
position the country as the global sourcing hub for software and services.” Founded in 1998, it is the leading association of the IT
software and services industry in India. NASSCOM’s membership is a global
trade body with about 850 members, of which nearly 150 are global companies from
the U.S., U.K., European Union Japan and China. NASSCOM’s member companies are
in the business of software development, software services, and IT-enabled/BPO
services. The association prioritizes, “In India and around the world, NASSCOM
members are participants in the new global economy and are reputed for their
cutting-edge business practices and social initiatives.”
Telecommunications
Telecommunications
associations are focused on government regulation of the airways and bands above
all other issues. Associations representing large and small businesses have
formed for each segment of telecommunications business: wireless, Internet
commerce broadcast and cable.
The
CTIA-The Wireless Association is an
international association working as the voice of the wireless and mobile radio
industry representing members while lobbying policy makers in the Executive
Branch, in the Federal Communications Commission, and in Congress, CTIA's
industry committees provide leadership in the area of taxation, roaming, safety,
regulations, fraud and technology.[ii]
The United States Telecomm Association (USTA)
is focused on the providers and suppliers of the telecommunications including local
exchange, long distance, wireless, Internet and cable television service
industries with larger corporate members including Verizon and SBC.[iii]
Outside
of the United States, telecommunications associations have formed in many
countries, including Australia where the Australian
Mobile Telecommunication Association (AMTA) is the peak industry body representing Australia’s mobile telecommunications
industry. Its mission is “To promote an environmentally, socially and
economically responsible and successful mobile telecommunications industry in
Australia.” AMTA’s members include mobile phone carriers,
handset manufacturers, retail outlets, network equipment suppliers and other
suppliers to the industry. AMTA deals with a wide range of industry, government,
social and environmental issues as well as holding meetings and networking
events for its members and research and statistics reporting.[iv]
Biotechnology Associations
An
emerging field, biotechnology is becoming increasingly targeted as a strategic
priority for national IT policies. In Malaysia, this segment has been identified
as a key driver for the Malaysian economy and investments have been made in a
special Bio-Valley within the Malaysian Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC)
technology park region. In the U.S., national and many state
level associations have already formed for this field. National
organizations exist in Hungary,
the United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia and New
Zealand, however, in many countries, biotechnology firms are members of
existing technology associations. Bioethics, venture capital and investments,
and intellectual property issues are top-level concerns for these associations.