Studies in Science of Science ›› 2024, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (12): 2642-2655.

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The Impact of Key Core Technology on Derivative Technology Innovation of Industrial Chain

  

  • Received:2023-10-30 Revised:2024-01-26 Online:2024-12-15 Published:2024-12-15

关键核心技术对产业链衍生技术创新的影响

赖秀萍1,2,聂力兵3,周青3,陈文冲4   

  1. 1.
    2. 南京大学商学院
    3. 杭州电子科技大学管理学院
    4. 天津大学
  • 通讯作者: 聂力兵
  • 基金资助:
    加快职务科技成果转化改革政策扎实落地的思路与对策研究

Abstract: The current "neck-sticking" dilemma in China is not merely sanctions on specific enterprises or technological fields, but the comprehensive blockade of the industrial chain and innovation chain by the Western countries with the United States as the leader. Derivative technological innovation around key core technologies and building a complete technological ecosystem based on the industrial chain represent fundamental approaches to comprehensively breaking through the "neck-sticking" dilemma. However, current literature on how focal firms' key core technology affects derivative technological innovation in the industrial chain is relatively limited, making the industrialization of key core technology lack theoretical guidance. Based on the perspective of innovation diffusion, we propose an analytical framework for the diffusion path of key core technology and its derivative technology innovation, and discuss its process mechanism, influencing factors and implementation path. This article takes A-share listed companies as research objects and identifies key core technology through their patent information, so as to obtain a list of focal firms owning key core technology. Subsequently, we obtain the basic information and patents of suppliers and customers for these focal firms and identify whether these patents are derivative patents around the key core technology based on their technology areas. Based on the finally available 699 year-firm unbalanced panel observations of 142 firms over the period 2008-2020, the empirical research is conducted using a regression method. It is found that the key core technology acquired by the focus enterprise might significantly promote the derivative technology innovation of the industrial chain. Among them, the focal firms can push the derivative technology innovation of upstream suppliers after acquiring key core technologies, but their influence on downstream customers is limited. Further heterogeneity analysis shows that the innovation model of collaborative R&D and the bargaining power of focal firms may strengthen the promotion effect of key core technologies on derivative technology innovation. Stringent intellectual property rights protection also hinders the innovation of derivative technologies, while the moderating effect of geographic proximity is not significant. Contributions are reflected in the following aspects: (1) The findings of this study provide theoretical support for whether and how derivative technology innovation can be promoted after the breakthrough of key core technology. Existing literature mostly analyzes the motives and paths of derivative technology innovations spawned by key core technology in a qualitative manner, which lacks empirical evidence. We argue that not only the single-point breakthrough from "0 to 1" but also the subsequent derivative technology innovation from "1 to N" should be emphasized to break through the "neck-sticking " dilemma. We thus advance theoretical research on "neck-sticking" technology by testing that focal firms could construct a technological ecosystem from the perspective of innovation diffusion after acquiring key core technology. (2) We have broadened boundaries regarding the mechanism of innovation implications in industrial chains. Unlike previous studies that focused on how the innovation capability of suppliers or customers affects the innovation behavior of focal firms, the study shifts the lens to focal firms and focuses on how innovation breakthroughs of focal firms affect derivative technology innovations of upstream and downstream firms in the industry chain. (3) The study constructs information flow in the innovation diffusion process of key core technology and sheds light on how key core technology promotes derivative technology innovation through the flow of technology, information and personnel, thus enriching the study on spillover paths in innovation diffusion research. In summary, we have provided theoretical support for the diffusion of innovation of key core technology and the construction of the technological ecosystem of the industrial chain, as well as a reference basis for industrial innovation practice and policy formulation.

摘要: 围绕关键核心技术展开衍生技术创新,依托产业链构建技术生态体系,是全面突破“卡脖子”困境的根本途径。基于创新扩散视角,研究构建了关键核心技术、知识溢出和衍生技术创新的分析框架,深入探讨其过程机制、影响因素和实现路径。研究发现,焦点企业在取得关键核心技术后能够显著推动产业链企业的衍生技术创新。其中,焦点企业获取关键核心技术后可以倒逼上游供应商的衍生技术创新,但对下游客户的影响力并不显著。进一步异质性分析表明,合作研发的创新模式和焦点企业的议价能力能够强化关键核心技术对衍生技术创新的促进作用,严苛的知识产权保护会阻碍衍生技术创新。研究通过围绕关键核心技术的衍生技术创新的理论研究,为关键核心技术的创新扩散和产业链的技术生态构建提供了理论支撑,也为产业创新实践和政策制定提供了参考依据。