China's Drive for the Technology Frontier: Indigenous Innovation in the High-Tech Industry

China has become an innovation powerhouse in high-tech industries, but the widely held view assumes the Chinese model is built on technological borrowing and state capitalism. This book debunks the myths surrounding the Chinese model with a fresh take on Chinas strategies for technological innovation. The central argument is that indigenous innovation plays a critical role in transforming the Chinese high-tech industry, allowing industrial enterprises to assimilate knowledge developed elsewhere, utilize science and technology resources, and eventually approach the technological frontier. The question is how Chinese businesses and governments engage in indigenous innovation. This book analyzes how the interaction of strategy, organization, and finance in leading Chinese high-tech firms underpinned by national institutions enables indigenous innovation with Chinese characteristics, featuring detailed case studies of two critical high-tech industries and the business histories of leading Chinese innovators.

Format: Hardback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 07 July 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

China has emerged as a dominant force in high-tech industries, challenging the notion that its success is solely attributed to technological borrowing and state capitalism. In this comprehensive book, the author aims to debunk the myths surrounding China's model of innovation. The central argument posits that indigenous innovation plays a pivotal role in transforming the Chinese high-tech industry. Similar to other successful industrialized nations, indigenous innovation in China enables industrial enterprises to assimilate knowledge from abroad, leverage science and technology resources, and harness the human capabilities accumulated within the country. The key question revolves around how Chinese businesses and governments engage in indigenous innovation.

To address this question, the book employs the social conditions of innovative enterprise framework developed by William Lazonick and colleagues. It analyzes how the interplay of strategy, organization, and finance in leading Chinese high-tech firms, supported by national institutions, fosters indigenous innovation with distinctive Chinese characteristics. The book provides in-depth case studies of two critical high-tech industries: the telecom-equipment industry and the semiconductor industry. Within these industries, the book delves into the business histories of prominent Chinese innovators, shedding light on their strategies, challenges, and achievements.

By examining China's experience in indigenous innovation, this book offers valuable insights for advanced and emerging economies. It highlights the importance of nurturing local talent, fostering a culture of innovation, and encouraging collaboration between industry, academia, and government. The book also emphasizes the significance of government policies and initiatives in promoting technological advancements and fostering an environment conducive to innovation.

In conclusion, China's journey in high-tech innovation demonstrates the power of indigenous innovation and its ability to propel economic growth and development. This book provides a valuable contribution to the understanding of China's innovation model and offers valuable lessons for other countries seeking to emulate its success.

Weight: 530g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367741839