China's Emerging Capabilities in Energy Technology Innovation and Development
Abstract
This project studied firm-level capabilities in China for technology innovation in several energy-related domains: civilian nuclear power, wind turbine manufacturing, and solar photovoltaic panel fabrication. The research documented patterns of knowledge creation, transfer, and dissemination between Chinese and overseas firms, as well as among Chinese firms themselves. The research also examined the interaction between Chinese firms engaged in energy-related innovation and Chinese governmental agencies conducting various aspects of industrial policy. The research addressed policy concerns surrounding China's technology capabilities, as well as China's ability to acquire knowledge through participation in global supply chains for high-technology products. The work also addressed theoretical issues surrounding the role of innovation in industrial development more generally, effectively arguing that the contemporary Chinese experience suggests a new form of late industrialization in which innovation surrounding late-stage technology commercialization plays a vital role. Methodologically, this project developed original qualitative data collected primarily at the firm level both within China and globally. Data were collected primarily through participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Our empirical data suggest that China-based firms in the renewable energy domain namely in wind turbine production and solar PV cell/module fabrication -- have developed a unique form of innovative manufacturing, one based on the simultaneous management of tempo, scaling, and cost reduction. For particularly complex energy technology systems, such as civilian nuclear power plants, the greatest challenges involve not new technology development, but rather systems integration. In these domains, Chinese firms have not necessarily achieved significant advances.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 22, 2015
- Accession Number
- ADA621780
Entities
People
- Edward S. Steinfield
Organizations
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology