Abstract—Transfer of knowledge and technology from developed countries to developing countries and the degree of absorption, adaption and utilization of knowledge and technology by host countries is a complicated issue. The purpose of this paper is to determine and prioritize the key success factors of technology and knowledge transfer from points of view of a recipient company in Iran. In this paper, an EPC project in field of Gas Plant will be investigated as a real case study of joint venture of Iranian companies and an Italian company and then according to experiences of project experts the key success factors will be recognized. The importance of this survey is that it can help Oil &Gas, Petrochemical, and Power Plants’ managers of Iran and any other developing country to fully perceive the key parameters of a successful technology transfer process. Keywords—Joint venture, key success factor, knowledge absorption, technology transfer. I. INTRODUCTION NE of the biggest Gas Plant projects in the Middle East, being done by Nargan Company in Iran, is Phase 12 of South Pars Gas Field- EPC3, here after identified by SP12. The other partners of SP12 are Tecnimont (Italy), Dorriz (Iran) and Gamma (Iran). The project capacity is 75,000,000 M3/D Treated Gas, 2,210,000 M3/D (1,000,000 T/Y) Ethane (C2), 80,000 BBL/D Gas Condensate, 1,050,000 T/Y Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) & 400 T/D Sulfur. The scope of work of this project is as below: • Grant of Rights for Use of Technical Information and Know-How/License • Engineering Design & Procurement Services • Equipment & Material Supply • Construction Works • Pre-Commissioning Supervision • Commissioning & Start-Up Services • Performance Test In this paper, SP12 is investigated as a case study for defining the key success factors of technology transfer in joint F. Zahra Honarmand Shahzileh is student of Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. (e-mail: zhs066@ mun.ca). S. Ali Mashhadi Aghajan is project manager of MAPNA Boiler Engineering & Manufacturing Co. (while MAPNA Boiler Co. is a subsidiary of MAPNA Group), No.7, Golkhaneh Street, Africa Ave. Tehran, IRAN (e- mail: ali.aghajan@mapnaboiler.com). venture contracts. Tecnimont Company- accessing of the best available state-of-the-art technology in Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Oil & Gas, and Power plants- is considered as a knowledge and technology provider company or transferor while, Nargan Company is the receiver of technology or transferee company. II. BACKGROUND INFORMATION According to [1], the transfer of knowledge and technology is a particularly difficult type of communication often requires collaborative activity between two or more individuals or functional units who are separated by structural, cultural, and organizational boundaries; also, is as an interactive process with a great deal of back-and-forth exchange among individuals over an extended period of time. In technology transfer process there have been always a provider company (transferor) who commercializes its knowledge or technology and a recipient company (transferee) who purchases technology for its acquisition. Technology can be transferred in different ways. There isn't a unique definition for its levels; however, it can be categorized into three levels: 1- Intra-Firm Technology Transfer which knowledge is effectively transferred from one discipline to another discipline within the company. 2- Inter-Firm Technology Transfer in which a company receives the knowledge and technology of another company. According the view of Liao and Hu in transferee [2], this transfer has been considered as a process of inter-organizational learning. 3- International Technology Transfer that two or more countries are involved in technology transfer in which cultural and political issues play crucial roles. There has been an obvious difference between the levels of technology in developed countries and developing countries. Developing countries for expedition of industrialization and avoiding waste of their time and restricted resources are always trying to receive advanced knowledge and technologies of developed countries via different channels. Developed countries are trying to promulgate technology advancement by international technology transfer [3]. Several methods of technology transfer are more favorable in developing countries. • Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in which a foreign company invests in a host developing country directly. Interests of foreign investors depend on stability of Zahra Honarmand Shahzileh, and Ali Mashhadi Aghajan O Key Success Factors of Technology Absorption in an EPC Gas Plant Project in Iran World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology 77 2013 191