IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/taf/apbizr/v13y2007i3p451-469.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Subsidiary Technology Upgrading and International Technology Transfer, with Reference to China

Author

Listed:
  • John W. Medcof

Abstract

This paper reviews the research on technology upgrading in the subsidiaries of transnational corporations and the research on the development of Chinese high technology firms. On the basis of this it develops fresh policy options for government intent upon facilitating international technology transfer to their jurisdictions. Technology upgrading is the use of increasingly complex technologies in products and processes, and the development of the managerial and organizational capabilities needed to leverage those technologies effectively. Technology upgrading by the subsidiaries of transnational corporations can contribute to the economic development of the host region and is often driven by the entrepreneurial activities of subsidiary management. The upgrading process involves collaborating/lobbying with suppliers, headquarters and sister subsidiaries. Economic development policy should foster subsidiary technology upgrading as part of initiatives to increase international technology transfer.

Suggested Citation

  • John W. Medcof, 2007. "Subsidiary Technology Upgrading and International Technology Transfer, with Reference to China," Asia Pacific Business Review, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 13(3), pages 451-469, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:apbizr:v:13:y:2007:i:3:p:451-469
    DOI: 10.1080/13602380701292006
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/13602380701292006
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1080/13602380701292006?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Magnus Blomström & Ari Kokko & Mario Zejan, 2000. "Multinational Corporations and Spillovers," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Foreign Direct Investment, chapter 8, pages 101-133, Palgrave Macmillan.
    2. Bernard M. Hoekman & Keith E. Maskus & Kamal Saggi, 2023. "Transfer of Technology to Developing Countries: Unilateral and Multilateral Policy Options," World Scientific Book Chapters, in: Kamal Saggi (ed.), Technology Transfer, Foreign Direct Investment, and the Protection of Intellectual Property in the Global Economy, chapter 5, pages 127-142, World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd..
    3. Ivarsson, Inge & Alvstam, Claes Goran, 2005. "Technology transfer from TNCs to local suppliers in developing countries: A study of AB Volvo's truck and bus plants in Brazil, China, India, and Mexico," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(8), pages 1325-1344, August.
    4. John W. Medcof, 2001. "Resource‐based strategy and managerial power in networks of internationally dispersed technology units," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 22(11), pages 999-1012, November.
    5. Giuliani, Elisa & Pietrobelli, Carlo & Rabellotti, Roberta, 2005. "Upgrading in Global Value Chains: Lessons from Latin American Clusters," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 33(4), pages 549-573, April.
    6. Magnus Blomström & Ari Kokko & Mario Zejan, 2000. "Policies to Encourage Inflows of Technology through Foreign Multinationals," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Foreign Direct Investment, chapter 13, pages 203-220, Palgrave Macmillan.
    7. Carlsson, Bo, 2006. "Internationalization of innovation systems: A survey of the literature," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(1), pages 56-67, February.
    8. Ernst, Dieter & Kim, Linsu, 2002. "Global production networks, knowledge diffusion, and local capability formation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(8-9), pages 1417-1429, December.
    9. Xiangdong Chen, 2002. "Research-based vs. production-based innovation in China: regional dimension analysis," International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 2(2/3), pages 146-163.
    10. Dieter Ernst, 2002. "Global production networks and the changing geography of innovation systems. Implications for developing countries," Economics of Innovation and New Technology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(6), pages 497-523.
    11. Yeung, Henry Wai-chung & Liu, Weidong & Dicken, Peter, 2006. "Transnational corporations and network effects of a local manufacturing cluster in mobile telecommunications equipment in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 520-540, March.
    12. John Humphrey & Hubert Schmitz, 2002. "How does insertion in global value chains affect upgrading in industrial clusters?," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(9), pages 1017-1027.
    13. Kohpaiboon, Archanun, 2006. "Foreign direct investment and technology spillover: A cross-industry analysis of Thai manufacturing," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 34(3), pages 541-556, March.
    14. Blomstrom, Magnus & Kokko, Ari, 1998. "Multinational Corporations and Spillovers," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 12(3), pages 247-277, July.
    15. Yifei Sun, 2000. "Spatial Distribution of Patents in China," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(5), pages 441-454.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Françoise Hay & Christian Milelli, 2013. "The endless quest to strategic assets by Chinese firms through FDI:From Inward to Outward Flows," EconomiX Working Papers 2013-16, University of Paris Nanterre, EconomiX.
    2. Heim, Irina & Kalyuzhnova, Yelena & Ghobadian, Abby, 2023. "Win-win strategies for firms operating in resource-abundant countries: Technological spillovers and a collaborative diversification policy," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. Amendolagine, Vito & Chaminade, Cristina & Guimón, José & Rabellotti, Roberta, 2019. "Cross-border knowledge flows through R&D FDI: Implications for low- and middle-income countries," Papers in Innovation Studies 2019/9, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    4. Kazuhiro Asakawa & Ashok Som, 2008. "Internationalization of R&D in China and India: Conventional wisdom versus reality," Asia Pacific Journal of Management, Springer, vol. 25(3), pages 375-394, September.
    5. Yunlong Duan & Hanxiao Liu & Zhiqing Deng & Peng Tao, 2021. "The Impact of Cross-Border R&D Sourcing on the Innovation Quality of MNCs, from the Perspective of Business Model Innovation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Tri Cicik Wijayanti & Made Setini & Dio Caisar Darma & Purwadi Purwadi & Prisciella Rizky Alka, 2020. "Connectivity Continuous Improvement Program and Employee Performance," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 10(1), pages 54-62.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Contreras, Oscar F. & Carrillo, Jorge & Alonso, Jorge, 2012. "Local Entrepreneurship within Global Value Chains: A Case Study in the Mexican Automotive Industry," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(5), pages 1013-1023.
    2. Petr Pavlínek & Pavla Žížalová, 2016. "Linkages and spillovers in global production networks: firm-level analysis of the Czech automotive industry," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 16(2), pages 331-363.
    3. Hansen, Ulrich Elmer & Lema, Rasmus, 2019. "The co-evolution of learning mechanisms and technological capabilities: Lessons from energy technologies in emerging economies," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 241-257.
    4. Charlotte Keijser & Michiko Iizuka, 2018. "Looking Beyond Global Value Chains in Capacity Development: The Case of the IT-Enabled Service (ITES) Sector in South Africa," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(3), pages 442-461, July.
    5. Keijzer, Charlotte & Iizuka, Michiko, 2017. "Pathways for capacity building in heterogeneous value chains: Evidence from the case of IT-enabled services in South Africa," MERIT Working Papers 2017-012, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    6. Pietrobelli, Carlo & Rabellotti, Roberta, 2011. "Global Value Chains Meet Innovation Systems: Are There Learning Opportunities for Developing Countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 1261-1269, July.
    7. Guimón, José & Chaminade, Cristina & Maggi, Claudio & Salazar-Elena, Juan Carlos, 2018. "Policies to Attract R&D-related FDI in Small Emerging Countries: Aligning Incentives With Local Linkages and Absorptive Capacities in Chile," Journal of International Management, Elsevier, vol. 24(2), pages 165-178.
    8. Pietrobelli, Carlo & Rabellotti, Roberta, 2011. "Global Value Chains Meet Innovation Systems: Are There Learning Opportunities for Developing Countries?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(7), pages 1261-1269, July.
    9. Mohamad, Mostafa & Songthaveephol, Veerasith, 2020. "Clash of titans: The challenges of socio-technical transitions in the electrical vehicle technologies – the case study of Thai automotive industry," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 153(C).
    10. Gosens, Jorrit & Lu, Yonglong & Coenen , Lars, 2013. "Clean-tech Innovation in Emerging Economies: Transnational Dimensions in Technological Innovation System Formation," Papers in Innovation Studies 2013/10, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    11. Crespo, Nuno & Fontoura, Maria Paula, 2007. "Determinant Factors of FDI Spillovers - What Do We Really Know?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 410-425, March.
    12. Jan Fagerberg & Bengt-Åke Lundvall & Martin Srholec, 2018. "Global Value Chains, National Innovation Systems and Economic Development," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 30(3), pages 533-556, July.
    13. Markusen, James R. & Venables, Anthony J., 1999. "Foreign direct investment as a catalyst for industrial development," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 43(2), pages 335-356, February.
    14. Daniel Münich & Martin Srholec & Michael Moritz & Johannes Schäffler, 2014. "Mothers and Daughters: Heterogeneity of German Direct Investments in the Czech Republic," Prague Economic Papers, Prague University of Economics and Business, vol. 2014(1), pages 42-62.
    15. Natasha Agarwal & Chris Milner & Alejandro Riaño, 2011. "Credit Constraints and FDI Spillovers in China," Discussion Papers 11/21, University of Nottingham, GEP.
    16. Mohamed Mansour Kadah, 2003. "Foreign Direct Investment and International Technology Transfer to Egypt," Working Papers 0317, Economic Research Forum, revised Jun 2003.
    17. Pleticha, Petr, 2021. "Who Benefits from Global Value Chain Participation? Does Functional Specialization Matter?," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 291-299.
    18. Muhammed BENLI, 2016. "FDI and export spillovers using Heckman’s two step approach: Evidence from Turkish manufacturing data," Theoretical and Applied Economics, Asociatia Generala a Economistilor din Romania - AGER, vol. 0(4(609), W), pages 315-342, Winter.
    19. Chun Yang & Haifeng Liao, 2010. "Backward Linkages Of Cross‐Border Production Networks Of Taiwanese Pc Investment In The Pearl River Delta, China," Tijdschrift voor Economische en Sociale Geografie, Royal Dutch Geographical Society KNAG, vol. 101(2), pages 199-217, April.
    20. Simona Iammarino, 2018. "FDI and regional development policy," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 1(3), pages 157-183, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:taf:apbizr:v:13:y:2007:i:3:p:451-469. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Chris Longhurst (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.tandfonline.com/FAPB20 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.