From foreign technology dependence towards greater innovation autonomy: China’s integration into the information and communications technology (ICT) global value chain (GVC)

Abstract

China's integration into the information and communications technology global value chain has taken place as global technology corporations outsourced and offshored an increasing range of functions, including manufacturing and assembly, and to some extent innovation to more competitive regions within China. This paper reviews the literature conceptualising this process of China's integration from an initial period of technology dependency on foreign companies to more recent attempts by China to achieve greater levels of technology autonomy. From initial disappointment with low levels of technology transfer from foreign companies to more aggressive efforts in recent years to push for indigenous innovation by leveraging market access, China has achieved limited success in establishing domestic brands but continues to lack significant core technology in critical areas such as semiconductors.

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