There are various patterns of technological alliances^[1] from R&D enterprises to associations formed with the main purpose of sub-contracted manufacture or supply-chain management. The purpose here is to consider those forms of association devoted to the core of technology and to expand upon concepts touched upon in royalties.

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While the three principal forms of association are (a)franchising (b) joint-ventures and (c) strategic partnerships, there are a variety of formal forms of association pertaining to the technological core. They are, in no intentional order:

• cross-licensing deals
• modern equivalents of keiretsu, zaibatsu and chaebol arrangements
• turnkey contracts
• engineering contracts
• technical assistance contracts
• technical service contracts
• management contracts
• contract of sale
• Venture Capital Agreements
• Build-Operate-Transfer contracts
• parent-subsidiary Agreements
• Business Process Outsourcing (BPO)
• conglomerates; inter alia agreements
• Private equityFirm Agreements and Partnerships