Emerging regional innovation systems in Shenzhen: Technological evolution of foreign-invested and indigenous firms

Chun Yang*

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Chapter in book/report/conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

    3 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Over the past decades, the concept of innovation systems (IS) has been well developed and adopted in Western countries to account for the role played by the institutions and organizations that systematically interact in technological change as a key to competitiveness (Lundvall 1992 ; Nelson 1993). However, it has been criticized for neglecting the international or trans-local dimension (Bunnell and Coe 2001 ; Fromhold-Eisebith 2007 ). The trans-local linkages of the innovation dynamics are particularly crucial given that frontier innovation is rarely achieved in less developed countries (LDCs) and that most technology has to be imported. Technology transfer through foreign direct investment (FDI) has long been treated as a major engine of technological upgrading in LDCs. Governments in many LDCs, for example China, expect that advantageous technological knowledge embedded in FDI can drive technological upgrading. However, increasing numbers of developing countries have started to question the effectiveness of the FDI-led technological upgrading strategy and have called for more emphasis on indigenous innovation as a driver of developing indigenous technological capabilities (Fu and Gong 2011 ). Increasing attention has turned to assessing the major drivers of technological upgrading in developing countries, especially indigenous or foreign innovation efforts, and evaluating whether developing countries can rely on foreign technology to catch up with industrialized countries (Fu and Gong 2011 ). The debate on the importance of foreign versus indigenous innovation efforts is inconclusive (Fu and Gong 2011 : 1213).
    Original languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationInnovation and Regional Development in China
    EditorsIngo Liefner, Yehua Dennis Wei
    PublisherRoutledge
    Pages191-215
    Number of pages25
    Edition1st
    ISBN (Electronic)9780203106754
    ISBN (Print)9780415621687, 9781138231337
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 24 Jul 2013

    Publication series

    NameRoutledge Studies in the Modern World Economy

    Scopus Subject Areas

    • General Business,Management and Accounting
    • Economics, Econometrics and Finance(all)

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