Secondary innovation

The path of catch-up with ‘Made in China’

Bibliographic Data

ID12918103
AuthorsXiaobo Wu (0000-0002-9663-0693, Zhejiang University, corresponding author), Rufei Ma (0000-0002-8065-5992, University of Cambridge), Yongjiang Shi (0000-0001-8739-6244, University of Cambridge), Ke Rong (0000-0002-4651-5902, University of Cambridge)
Year2009
Volume2
Issue1
Pages93-104
Publication date2009-06-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueChina Economic Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1753-8963 • E-ISSN: 1753-8971
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/17538960902860147
OpenAlexW2048928297
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited10

Is endogenous innovation merely in the form of original innovation? In this paper, we attempt to illustrate a typical catch-up path with ‘Made in China’ named ‘secondary innovation’, which goes towards the virtuous circle of foreign technology acquisition and endogenous technological innovation, through an indepth longitudinal case study. Although secondary innovation is based on foreign imported technology, it is fundamentally different from simple imitation and adaptation of imported technology. Basic assimilation is just the first step of secondary innovation, and is further followed by ‘structural understanding’, ‘functional understanding’ and ‘conceptual understanding’. Without considerable active assimilation and absorption, the latecomer firm would probably fall into a vicious circle of ‘import – lag behind – import again’

Absorptive capacity · Business · China · Economic geography · Economics · Imitation · Industrial organization · Path (computing · Political science · Virtuous circle and vicious circle · Computer Science · Firm Innovation and Growth · Innovation and Knowledge Management · Innovation and Socioeconomic Development

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