{"title":"Short technology cycle time and firm innovation: Evidence from China","authors":"Junwei Shi , Jiajia Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.respol.2025.105305","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A theoretical model is developed in this study to account for how the technology cycle time affects firm innovation from the perspective of latecomers. Empirical estimations using data from listed companies in China from 1990 to 2022 are conducted. The results show that the more latecomer firms specialize in technologies with short TCTs, the more likely it is for them to enhance innovation performance. Moderating effects of human capital and R&D investment on the relationship between short TCT and firm innovation are verified. Moreover, the impacts of short TCT on firm innovation are stronger when firms are in environments with high uncertainty; when firms are in highly competitive, high-tech, and high reverse engineering industries; and when firms are private, capital-intensive, and in the earlier stages of the lifecycle. The findings offer new insights into the technological catch-up of latecomers in emerging economies by choosing technologies with short TCTs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":48466,"journal":{"name":"Research Policy","volume":"54 8","pages":"Article 105305"},"PeriodicalIF":8.0000,"publicationDate":"2025-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Research Policy","FirstCategoryId":"91","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048733325001349","RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"管理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MANAGEMENT","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
A theoretical model is developed in this study to account for how the technology cycle time affects firm innovation from the perspective of latecomers. Empirical estimations using data from listed companies in China from 1990 to 2022 are conducted. The results show that the more latecomer firms specialize in technologies with short TCTs, the more likely it is for them to enhance innovation performance. Moderating effects of human capital and R&D investment on the relationship between short TCT and firm innovation are verified. Moreover, the impacts of short TCT on firm innovation are stronger when firms are in environments with high uncertainty; when firms are in highly competitive, high-tech, and high reverse engineering industries; and when firms are private, capital-intensive, and in the earlier stages of the lifecycle. The findings offer new insights into the technological catch-up of latecomers in emerging economies by choosing technologies with short TCTs.
期刊介绍:
Research Policy (RP) articles explore the interaction between innovation, technology, or research, and economic, social, political, and organizational processes, both empirically and theoretically. All RP papers are expected to provide insights with implications for policy or management.
Research Policy (RP) is a multidisciplinary journal focused on analyzing, understanding, and effectively addressing the challenges posed by innovation, technology, R&D, and science. This includes activities related to knowledge creation, diffusion, acquisition, and exploitation in the form of new or improved products, processes, or services, across economic, policy, management, organizational, and environmental dimensions.