25th May 2006

Inaugural speech delivered by Dr Richard Li-Hua as follows:

Dear Prof Wang Huijiong,

Dear Prof Tarek Khalil,

Dear Prof Yasser Hosni,

Dear Professor Wu Guisheng,

Ladies and Gentleman, good evening!

I am pleased to announce formally the establishment of China Association for Management of Technology (in short CAMOT).

In the age of globalization, China presents a unique setting for organizations. The unprecedented growth of China’s economy, which remains the fastest growing in the world, offers significant potential for both Chinese and foreign investors. It has been recognized that management of technology in China needs close interaction and cooperation with the international community with China’s access into the WTO, which inspires the philosophy of the establishment of CAMOT.

CAMOT is an international organization committed to encouraging and supporting researchers and professionals who are engaging research in management of technology in China. CAMOT aims to establish national, regional, and international collaborative research programs in the field of technology management, technology innovation, technology transfer as well as knowledge transfer by engaging government agencies, funding agencies, educational institutions, state-own enterprises (SOEs)  as well as private sectors in China. CAMOT stresses the importance of keeping-up with the fast pace of technological change and the emerging new global paradigms of the business environment. Management of technology (MOT) is an important strategic instrument to improve competitiveness and create prosperity in China. CAMOT believes that there is a need for appropriate infrastructures, strategies and mechanism to be established in order to support the diffusion of management of technology principles throughout China and a need to address the existing gaps in the process of technology management, which will assist in implementing more sustainable arrangement for successful technology transfer and development.

The vision of CAMOT is to inspire the excellence for management of technology and promote the appropriate effective diffusion of management of technology principles throughout China.

CAMOT Aims and Objectives are:

• To provide a platform for researchers and professionals to debate on how competitive advantages can be achieved through the application of successful technology management

• To provoke the current and strategic thinking of how core competences can be achieved through technology management

• To provide a platform for Chinese researchers, academics and practitioners to have close interaction with counterparts in the West

• To provide a platform for researchers, academics and practitioners from the West to have close interaction with counterparts in China

• To advance MOT research in China

• To promote MOT education in China

The Aims and Objectives of CAMOT will be achieved through the following activities and collaborative activities with other organizations:

• To organize international academic conferences attended by its members and those who are interested

• To organize international symposium on MOT in China

• To publish current thinking and strategic planning of MOT through Journal of Management of Technology in China (JCMT), its website, its newsletter and proceedings of conferences 

• To cooperate with IAMOT and IFTM in promotion and advancement of MOT research and MOT education in China

CAMOT, incorporated with International Association for Management of Technology (IAMOT) and International Forum of Technology Management (IFTM), offers its members association with professionals and academics in the field. It has been acknowledged that there is particularly close interaction between IAMOT, IFTM and the funding members of CAMOT following the successful launching of Journal of Technology Management in China by Emerald Insight in the UK in 2005.

In closing my remarks, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Prof Tarek Khalil, Prof Georges Haour and Prof Max von Ziditwitze, Prof Wang Huijiong who provide selfless and continuous support during the launching of CAMOT.  

In the meantime I wish to record my thanks to Tsinghua University and Zhejiang University and IAMOT 2006 Beijing as well who provide CAMOT an opportunities to have an inauguration event.

Last but not least, I wish to thank Mr Zhao Peng, Managing Director of Beijing Oxbridge Group, who sponsored this event.

Finally thank you all who attend this event this evening!