Abstract: Generic technologies empower the design of several technological applications for multiple markets, create value across several domains, and contribute to upgrading of existing industries. There are significant differences in the supply and diffusion laws of generic technologies among different innovation subjects. Particularly, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) tend to be unable to study and develop generic technology, also fail to capture its external diffusion. For one thing, SMEs involved in such predicament are in the downstream position in the technology chain, and are confronted with uncertainties due to intellectual property barriers, information distortion, opportunism and other factors, further adding to the risk of obtaining generic technologies. For another thing, SMEs are eager to establish core competitive advantages to break through homogenization of competition through utilizing generic technologies, and then promote the performance of generic technologies through industrial agglomeration and division of labor. Previous studies have carried out in-depth research on the principles and characteristics of generic technologies. However, most of them focus on macro description and theoretical speculation, while offering a wealth of experience to draw on, create the illusion of homogeneity of generic technology and fail to take into account how to provide SMEs with easy access to a wider set of generic technologies. This study closes this gap analyzing a case study regarding how Thai generic technologies are developed among SMEs, attempting to address the predicament of SMEs from a perspective of international comparison. In recent years, Thailand has implemented a number of policy measures for technological innovation of SMEs. The development of generic technologies has promoted the rapid increase of added value of products. The economic contribution of SMEs in agriculture, food, and cosmeceutical industries has shown a growth trend. Thus we build on a single case study to explore and identify Thai experiences of conducting research and development in generic technologies innovation for the value creation of products and services to enhance SMEs’ competitiveness.The study setting was anti-ageingnano-cosmeceutical products developed from Thai generic technologies platform. Nanotechnology was chosen because it is widely used in many industries and is the integration of basic research and applied technology, which significantly shows the characteristics of generic technology. Thailand institute of scientific and technological research (TISTR), which is one of the Thai leading organizations in the sustainable development of innovation society, conducted a project named STI for OTOP (One Tambon One Product) Upgrade which aims to help SMEs and local community meet the challenges in introducing generic-technology-based products and processes. Under this program, Cosceutic Innovation Laboratories (CIL), a small company, developed and commercialized new cosmeceutical products containing potent grape seed extract (GSE) using nanoemulsion technology. The supportive factors include utilizing of generic technologies to develop products innovation, packaging, process and standard via mentoring system and technology consultants, also linking marketing services and financial network to operate systematically. The economic value and social value created by the STI for OTOP Upgrade project are significant. To understand how Thai transfer technology and innovation to industry, we conducted a detailed examination of each phases of the case—technology-market matching, collaborative innovation, external diffusion, which permitted analysis of the pattern of technology chain associated with both the pervasive and innovation-spanning nature of generic technologies, and modeling of important mechanisms of Thai SMEs innovation policy. We find that the pervasive nature of generic technologies was waning over the process of transformation, from the application in multi-industry to the application within the industry, to the application within the enterprises, also the pattern of technology chain experienced the transformation from basic research, to generic technology, to proprietary technology, and to commercialization research. When the generic technology overflows from the upstream of the technology chain, the cost and risk of acquiring generic technologies are significantly improved due to the enhancement of the exclusive value of technology, therefore SMEs often lack the opportunity and motivation to acquire common technologies. We argue that generic technology mechanism in Thailand has experienced a transition from technology-subsided basis to demand-driven basis, meanwhile endowing generic technologies with more public-good attributes. Precisely, over the phase of technology-market matching, policy makers organize to identify the most promising technology solutions for market applications, or the most appropriate markets for technologies. Thailand searches and integrates innovative resources to fill gaps in the domestic nanotechnology field, and strengthen the knowledge and technology accumulation to guide technology application. The key to overcome the “death gorge” transition is that relevant basic research gains value certification during the identification and selection process. Over the phase of collaborative innovation, the technology licensing arrangement set up an effective benefit distribution mechanism, which allows the universities and scientific research institutions to create a community of interests and promote synergy between industry, university and research institutes. Over the phase of external diffusion, logo endorsement, exhibition promotion and other means play a role to protect the innovation income of SMEs to stimulate innovation demands. The innovation of Thai scientific research institutes lies in the whole value chain layout, which requires scientific research institutions to have dual control and sharing channels for innovative resources and market resources, which not only enables scientific research institutions to better serve small and medium-sized enterprises, but also enables themselves to grasp the dynamics of market trends and control the risk of investment. Our results have significant implications for policy-makers interested in enhancing generic technology innovation among SMEs. First, practitioners should actively identify and guide the generic technology demand of SMEs with the national master plan. This case study support to search and integrate innovative resources to strengthen innovation capabilities. Second, to reduce the cost and risk of acquiring generic technologies for SMEs, we should strengthen financial support for SMEs and expand diversified financial channels, as well as a sound intellectual property protection mechanism to protect the benefits of innovators. Third, policy makers should set effective access rules for SMEs to promote fairness and further improve multi-level, high-level national quality system. Fourth, practitioners should build a multi-agent collaborative, full-featured SME generic technical service system to generate an overall solution for industrial technology innovation.

Key words: generic technology, SME, case study