Technology transfer: Kuwait--a quarter-century of progress

The transfer of knowledge, skill, and technology from resource-rich countries to resource-constrained countries is a valuable tool in improving global health. During an important period in dental history, one individual made this type of transfer a reality. John W. Hein was director of the Forsyth Dental Center in Boston when he wrote a short article in 1986 defining technology transfer. For it to be successful, either within a first-world, developed country or in a third-world, developing country, he determined that certain proven procedures should be followed, maintained, and updated. This paper will outline the development of his strategy for technology transfer, as well as its successful application in Kuwait.