Using Large-Scale Programs to Help Develop Technological Capabilities

Abstract

China is a developing country but has made impressive progress in technological capability development. One strategy proved to be effective is the use of large-scale programs to help technological capability development. Examples include the subway equipment industry, the high-speed rail industry, the power generation equipment industry, the power transmission industry, the telecom equipment industry, etc. In all these sectors, China was lagging behind the technological innovation frontier before the related large-scale programs but is now among the world leaders. In this chapter we will try to understand the process of initiating and managing these large-scale programs.