Abstract
A technometric approach baesd on the compilation of national technical specifications of processes and products was applied for an international comparison of technological positions in two subfields of biotechnology: medical diagnosis by means of monoclonal antibodies and DNA probes, biotechnology of wastewater and drinking water treatment. Countries under review were Japan, USA and West-Germany. The leading position in the development of DNA probe diagnostics is occupied by the USA, Japan and Germany are lagging behind considerably. Technical standards of immunoassays are rather high in all three countries. New developments in this field like recombinant antibody technology are pursued most intensely in the USA. In wastewater technology Germany is performing well with respect to anaerobic treatment and nitrogen removal. Biological phosphorus removal and biodegradation of hazardous waste on the other side are most advance in the USA and in case of phosphorus removal also in Japan. It is concluded that national environmental policy should be based not just on national technical know-how but on the latest international technological standard which can be assessed for example by technometric analysis.