UNU-MERIT Working Papers Series
State-led technological development: A case of China's nanotechnology development
Can Huang & Yilin Wu #2011-013We analyze the nanotechnology patent applications filed in China from
1998 to 2008 and find that the extraordinary nanotechnology development
in China has been primarily promoted by the public sector but not driven
by industry and market force. This finding implies that developing
countries such as China with public research capacity and commitment to
technological development can make rapid progress in basic research of
emerging technologies, but it remains uncertain whether and when local
industry can benefit from public R&D investment to actively develop
indigenous innovation.
Keywords: Nanotechnology; Asia; China; R&D; Patent; State-led
JEL codes: O14, O33, O38
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