Technology development and transfer mechanisms are dependent on the nature of the technology. Established technologies are more easily turned to benefit than advanced technologies. One of the projects funded by NARP proved to be extremely beneficial for the emergence of two private Egyptian companies working on plant tissue culture. Both companies were established in 1990, which coincides with the start of this NARP project conducted from 1990 to 1994. It consisted of establishing protocols for the production of virus-free seed potatoes through tissue culture techniques.
Viral diseases constitute the most notorious problem of potato production in Egypt.
Subsequent adoption of the biotechnology by the two private companies took place because of the individual initiatives of staff members of NRC, who were hired as private consultants by both companies. One private company also established plant tissue culture protocols for the micropropagation of banana, strawberry and ornamentals. This amount equals the salaries of two senior researchers in Egypt. Obviously, the NRC department is not in a position to continue the same quality of research as performed during the NARP project cycle. The influence of foreign donors aid on biotechnology development and transfer becomes more apparent with advanced biotechnologies such as plant genetic engineering.