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: Paperback / softback
Length: 186 pages
Publication date: 29 January 2024
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 sector. Similar to other industrialized nations, China's indigenous innovation enables industrial enterprises to assimilate knowledge from abroad, leverage its scientific and technological resources, and harness the expertise of its workforce. This ultimately leads them to approach the cutting edge of technology.

The question at hand is how Chinese businesses and governments engage in indigenous innovation. To answer this, the book employs the social conditions of innovative enterprise framework developed by William Lazonick and his colleagues. This framework provides a valuable lens for analyzing how strategy, organization, and finance interact in leading Chinese high-tech firms, supported by national institutions. The book delves into detailed case studies of two critical high-tech industries: the telecom-equipment industry and the semiconductor industry. Within these industries, the book explores the business histories of prominent Chinese innovators, shedding light on their strategies, challenges, and achievements.

By examining China's experience in indigenous innovation, the book offers valuable insights for advanced and emerging economies alike. It highlights the importance of nurturing a culture of innovation, promoting research and development, and encouraging collaboration between industry, academia, and government. The book also emphasizes the significance of government policies and initiatives in fostering indigenous innovation, such as investment in infrastructure, talent development programs, and intellectual property protection.

In conclusion, China's journey in indigenous innovation serves as a testament to its remarkable economic growth and technological advancements. This book provides a valuable contribution to the understanding of innovation in developing countries, offering valuable lessons and strategies for policymakers, entrepreneurs, and researchers seeking to foster innovation and drive economic development.

Weight: 453g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367741846