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How fast do Chinese firms learn and catch up? Evidence from patent citations

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  • Yuandi Wang

    (School of Business, Sichuan University
    Innovation and Entrepreneurship Research Institute, Sichuan University)

  • Nadine Roijakkers

    (Hasselt University)

  • Wim Vanhaverbeke

    (Hasselt University
    Esade Business School)

Abstract

There is a wealth of research on technological learning in developing countries, but few scholars have clearly addressed the issue of learning time in an empirical way. This paper aims to fill this void by presenting an empirical investigation of the time needed by Chinese firms to learn from the technologies that they have in-licensed. Furthermore, we analyzed in detail the antecedents leading to an acceleration or deceleration of the learning process among Chinese licensees. The results of an event history analysis indicate that recipient firms take on average 5.8 years to learn from their in-licensed technologies. The absorptive capacity and firm age of the licensees, the technology licensing scale, the age of the licensed technology, and the desorptive capability of the licensor firm all play a role in shortening the learning time.

Suggested Citation

  • Yuandi Wang & Nadine Roijakkers & Wim Vanhaverbeke, 2014. "How fast do Chinese firms learn and catch up? Evidence from patent citations," Scientometrics, Springer;Akadémiai Kiadó, vol. 98(1), pages 743-761, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:scient:v:98:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1007_s11192-013-1016-6
    DOI: 10.1007/s11192-013-1016-6
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