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China's National Innovation System Approach to Participating in Information Technology: The Innovative Recombination of Technological Capability

Author

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  • Gu, Shulin

    (United Nations University, Institute for New Technologies)

Abstract

This paper examines the development of the Chinese electronics and information industry (IT) during the 1980s and the first half of the 1990s, aimed to explain, from the perspective of endogenous factors, how a less developed economy gets access to the so called information revolution in a period with dramatic changes in technological, institutional and policy aspects entailed by market reform and trade liberalization. The endogenous factors are analyzed as embodied in a national innovation system, they interact with each other in response to the challenges and opportunities coming from opening to international participation and moving in market competition. The paper suggests a different approach of IT development emerged from the Chinese experiences which is more application-driven, in contrast to the early experiences in the first tier of 'Newly Industrializing Economies' (NIEs) which began with electronics manufacturing, and was more export-led. Capability accumulations from the past investment and the widespread diffusion of the related technology are identified attributable for the new IT development trend. The paper calls for attention to the 'innovative recombination of technological capability' that characterizes the application-driven approach in which accumulated capabilities are dynamically combined with the newly learned, a process that involves radical institutional restructuring and intensive technological learning.

Suggested Citation

  • Gu, Shulin, 1997. "China's National Innovation System Approach to Participating in Information Technology: The Innovative Recombination of Technological Capability," UNU-INTECH Discussion Paper Series 1997-01, United Nations University - INTECH.
    • Handle: RePEc:unm:unuint:199701
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    File URL: https://www.merit.unu.edu/publications/discussion-papers/9701.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    4. Rosenberg,Nathan, 1994. "Exploring the Black Box," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9780521459556.
    5. Westphal, Larry E, 1990. "Industrial Policy in an Export-Propelled Economy: Lessons from South Korea's Experience," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 4(3), pages 41-59, Summer.
    6. Shulin Gu, 1996. "The emergence of new technology enterprises in China: A study of endogenous capability building via restructuring," Journal of Development Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 475-505.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dieter Ernst, 2001. "From Digital Divides to Industrial Upgrading: Information and Communication Technology and Asian Economic Development," Economics Study Area Working Papers 36, East-West Center, Economics Study Area.
    2. Manuel Mira Godinho & Sandro F. Mendonça & Tiago Santos Pereira, 2005. "Towards a taxonomy of innovation systems," Working Papers Department of Economics 2005/13, ISEG - Lisbon School of Economics and Management, Department of Economics, Universidade de Lisboa.

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    Keywords

    Information Technology; Innovations; Technology Policy; National Policy; China;
    All these keywords.

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    1. Socio-Economics of Innovation

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