Technology Transfer in Germany
When it comes to translating basic research into industrial success, few nations can match Germany. Since the 1940s, the nation’s vast industrial base has been fed with a constant stream of new ideas and expertise from science. And though German prosperity has faltered over the past decade because of the huge cost of unifying east and west as well as the global economic decline, it still has an enviable record for turning ideas into profit.
Much of the reason for that success is the Fraunhofer Society, a network of research institutes that exists solely to solve industrial problems and create sought after technologies-But today the Fraunhofer institutes have competition. Universities are taking an ever larger role in technology transfer, and technology parks are springing up all over. These efforts are being complemented by the federal programs for pumping money into start-up companies- Such a strategy may sound like a recipe for economic success, but 1t is not without its critics.
These people worry that favoring applied research will mean neglecting basic science, eventually starving industry of flesh ideas.If every scientist starts thinking like an entrepreneur, the argument goes, then the traditional principles of university research being curiosity driven: free and widely available will suffer. Others claim that many of the programs to promote technology transfer are a waste of money because half the small businesses that are promoted are bound to go bankrupt within a few years- While this debate continues, new ideas flow at a steady rate from Germany’s research networks, which bear famous names such as Helmholtz, Max Planck and Leibniz. Yet it is the fourth network, the Fraunhofer Society that plays the greatest role in technology transfer. Founded in 1949.the Fraunhofer Society is now Europe’s largest organization for applied technology, and has 59 institutes employing 1 2,000 people. It continues to grow. Last year, it swallowed up the Heinrich Hertz Institute for Communication Technology in Berlin. Today, there are even Fraunhofers in the US and Asia.
41 What factor can be attributed to German prosperity?
A Technology transfer
B Good management
C Hard work
D Fierce competition
42 Which of the following is NOT true of traditional university research?
A It is free
B It is profit-driven
C It is widely available
D It is curiosity—driven
43 The Fraunhofer Society is the largest organization for applied technology in ________
A Asia
B USA
C Europe
D Africa
44 When was the Fraunhofer Society founded?
A In 1940
B Last year
C After the unification
D In 1949
45 The word “expertise’ ’in line 3 could be best replaced by _________
A “experts”
B “scientists”
C “scholars”
D “special knowledge”
答案解析
41.正确答案为A。答案在第一段可以找到,该段的最后一句话it still has an enviable record for turning ideas into profit是该段的总结,明确指出了德国的繁荣归功于技术的转换。
42.正确答案为B。答案可以在第三段里找到,这一段里有这样一句话：traditional principles of university research being curiosity-driven, free and widely available will suffer,传统的大学科研原则有三个特点,惟独没有profit-driven,即受利益驱动。
43.正确答案为C。答案在最后一段里讲得很清楚。
44.正确答案为D。答案在最后一段的第一句话里。
45.正确答案为D。expertise是“非凡领域的知识和学问”的意思,另外三个选项都用来指人,在这个上下文里根本不合适。
