Transitions of Innovation Activities in Latecomer Countries: An Exploratory Case Study of South Korea

Why do we need a theory and metrics of technology upgrading?

“…The move to a post-catch up stage or the level of high-income economies involves countries operating at the technology frontier by solving problems that have not been solved by others. Unlike the catch-up stage where firms enter largely through a reverse PLC pattern, in the post-catch up stage firms enter at various stages in the PLC (Choung, Hwang, and Song 2014). They may enter the PLC via large firms in design and R&D stages; or via networks of new technology based firms immediately after dominant design has been established; or via cooperation between public R&D organisations and firms in early stages of new PLCs (Choung et al 2014).…”

“…Unlike the catch-up stage where firms enter largely through a reverse PLC pattern, in the post-catch up stage firms enter at various stages in the PLC (Choung, Hwang, and Song 2014). They may enter the PLC via large firms in design and R&D stages; or via networks of new technology based firms immediately after dominant design has been established; or via cooperation between public R&D organisations and firms in early stages of new PLCs (Choung et al 2014). Other firms can follow a 'strategic niche' strategy, 'which involves large number of public, private stakeholders through small-scale transition experiments that expand the scope of changes to a wider scale when the experiments succeed' (Seong, Kim, and Cho 2014).…”

“…The accumulation of technology capability in firms must be accompanied by an organisational and institutional infrastructure that supports the acquisition of such capabilities. Choung et al (2014) show that the transition from adoption (catching-up) to creation (post-catch-up) depends on the range of infrastructure to support a country's innovation activity, and the strategies and resources of individual companies. We consider infrastructure to be an important dimension of structural change.…”

“…We see major value in alternative metrics for understanding differences in the accumulation of innovation capabilities as reflected in the different dimensions of technology upgrading rather than summary country rankings. Approaches and metrics that go beyond the science and technology dimensions of technology upgrading, and recognise its multidimensional nature can provide new insights into innovation activities that allow latecomer countries to establish new technological trajectories for innovation (Choung et al 2014). …”

Post catch-up with market cultivation and product servicising: case of Taiwan’s transportation equipment industries

“…In these ways, the market and developmental trajectory are generally well-explored and/ or well-defined by the leading player in the advanced country. More recently, increasing attention has been paid, especially by scholars of technology management, to an issue whether or not a latecomer can leapfrog or outcompete its advanced counterparts by approaching the technological frontier (Lee and Lim 2001;Hobday, Rush, and Bessant 2004;Lee, Lim, and Song 2005) or at least level the playing field with the existing leading player in an emerging sector (Choung, Hwang, and Song 2014).…”