Transformation of Science to Technology

Science is generated by man because of his inquisitive nature and quest to know and be able to predict what happens in our universe. Science does not necessarily focus on practical applications and has no ownership. Technology on the other hand, is aimed at practical and commercially useful applications of science and has patent-protected ownership. From socio-economic perspective, although science and technology share a common base, scientific advancement is a necessary but not sufficient condition for technological advancement of nations. It is well established that successful transformation of science to technology depends on the status of political development of a society. Democracy is the prerequisite to social and economic justice and good governance, free market economy, and open society. Combined, these are the most important guarantor for the movement of societies to technologically advanced conditions and status. Even a cursory review of the socio-political developments of the past 2 decades in Southeast Asia, East Europe and South America provides ample evidence that democratization is the key to technological advancement.