Technology definition related to NACE: Statistical classification of Economic Activities (E.C)
Koos Slagter, 21-01-2015
In 1777 Beckmann defined the word Technology as a science related to the systematic
use of knowledge in the manufacturing of natural products. He described a variety of
different trades and manufacturing businesses, ranging from the woolen trade to hatmaking, dyeing, paper-making, tobacco production, et cetera. That was a historical
event.
Would it be possible to update his excellent definition in relation to our modern
innovating organizations and their economic activities?
1777 (Johann Beckmann)
Technologie ist die Wissenschaft, welche die Verarbeitung der Naturalien, oder die
Kentniß der Handwerke, lehrt. Anstat daß in den Werkstellen nur gewiesen wird, wie
man zur Verfertigung der Waaren, die Vorschriften und Gewohnheiten des Meisters
befolgen soll, giebt die Technologie, in systematischer Ordnung, gründliche Anleitung,
wie man zu eben diesem Endzwecke, aus wahren Grundsätzen und zuverlässigen
Erfahrungen, die Mittel finden, und die bey der Verarbeitung vorkommenden
Erscheinungen erklären und nutzen soll.
2015 Working definition1 (Koos Slagter)
Technology is a design science, including the use of systematic methods of problem
definition, diagnosis, design, intervention and evaluation research, that focuses on value
adding activities based on transformation of material, energy or information inputs (or
combinations). Technology covers knowledge related to organizations performing
economic activities. Technological knowledge concerns value adding activities, human
activities, processes and products.
1
For more information, see Textbook, Third Edition: Expected release December 2015.
NACE: Statistical classification of Economic Activities (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat)
(Source: Appendix, Textbook Effective Innovation in Practice, Koos Slagter, 2014 ©Maj Engineering Publishing)
A
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C
D
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H
I
J
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Q
R
S
exploitation of vegetable and animal natural resources (e.g. growing of crops, raising and breeding of animals, harvesting of plants);
extraction of minerals occurring naturally as solids (coal and ores), liquids (petroleum) or gases (natural gas) and supplementary
activities aimed at preparing the crude materials (e.g. crushing, grinding, cleaning, drying, liquefaction of natural gas etc.);
generally (though not always clear) this covers activities in the manufacturing section that involve the transformation of materials
into new products with a new product as the output. More specifically: the physical or chemical transformation of materials,
substances, or components into new products;
the activity of providing electric power, natural gas, steam, hot water and the like materials, substances, or components into new
products; through a permanent infrastructure (network) of lines, mains and pipes. This section includes the operation of electric and
gas utilities, which generate, control and distribute electric power or gas and provision of steam and air-conditioning supply;
activities related to the management (including collection, treatment and disposal) of various forms of waste, such as solid or nonsolid industrial or household waste, as well as contaminated sites;
this covers general construction and specialized construction activities for buildings and civil engineering works. It includes new
work, repair, additions and alterations, the erection of prefabricated buildings or structures on the site and construction of a
temporary nature;
wholesale and retail sale (i.e. sale without transformation) of any type of goods, and rendering services incidental to the sale of
merchandise. Wholesaling and retailing are the final steps in the distribution of merchandise;
the provision of passenger or freight transport, whether scheduled or not, by rail, pipeline, road, water or air, and associated
activities such as terminal and parking facilities, cargo handling, storage etc.;
provision of short-stay accommodation for visitors and other travelers and the provision of complete meals and drinks fit for
immediate consumption;
information and communication including production and distribution of information and cultural products, the provision of the
means to transmit or distribute these products, as well as data or communications, information technology activities and the
processing of data and other information service activities. Main components are publishing activities, motion picture and sound
recording activities, radio and TV broadcasting and programming activities, telecommunications activities, information technology
activities;
financial service activities, including insurance, reinsurance and pension funding activities and activities to support financial services;
real estate activities including acting as lessors, agents and/or brokers in one or more of the following: selling or buying real estate,
renting real estate, providing other real estate services such as appraising real estate or acting as real estate escrow agents;
specialized professional, scientific and technical activities. These activities require a high degree of training, and make specialized
knowledge and skills available to users;
administrative and support service activities including a variety of activities that support general business operations. These
activities differ from those in section Since their primary purpose is not the transfer of specialized knowledge;
activities of a governmental nature, normally carried out by the public administration. This includes the enactment and judicial
interpretation of laws and their pursuant regulation, as well as the administration of programmes based on them, legislative
activities, taxation, national defense, public order and safety, immigration services, foreign affairs and the administration of
government programmes;
a wide range of educational activities. This section includes public and private education, at any level or for any profession. The
instructions may be oral or written and may be provided by radio, television, Internet or via correspondence. It includes education
by the different Institutions in the regular school system at its different levels, as well as adult education;
provision of health and social work activities. Activities include a wide range of activities, starting from health care provided by
trained medical professionals in hospitals and other facilities, over residential care activities that still involve a degree of health care
activities, to social work activities without any involvement of health care professionals;
a wide range of activities to meet varied cultural, entertainment and recreational interests of the general public, including live
performances, operation of museum sites, gambling, sports and recreation activities;
this section (as a residual category) includes the activities of membership organizations, the repair of computers and personal and
household goods, and a variety of personal service activities not covered elsewhere in the classification.