Chapter-1-is-an-introductory-overview-of-the-national-technology-targeting-programs-I-examines-fundamental-questions-concerning-mission-agencies-and-mission-oriented-programsfirms-‘innovation-patterns-and-the-historical-background-of-national-champio

Chapter 1 serves as an introduction to the national technology-targeting programs and explores fundamental questions related to mission agencies, innovation patterns, historical background, policy implications, and East-West contrasts in technology development programs. It also identifies strategic issues that subsequent chapters will elaborate on.

Chapter 2 focuses on the U.S. spin-off experience in computers, semiconductors, nuclear power, aircraft, and jet engines to identify crucial spin-off mechanisms, potential obstacles and prospects, and strategies to enhance technological spin-off. It also reviews experiences in Sweden, Israel, and the USSR to understand how a country’s size, development stage, and economic system may affect spin-off.

Chapter 3 discusses crucial aspects of the national champion strategy by examining relevant experiences from Western Europe, Japan, and the U.S. in important technological fields. It investigates the rationale for national control of critical technologies and possible strategies, government practices, and how technology characteristics may affect the national champion strategy.

Chapter 4 concentrates on government-sponsored collaborative R&D among competitors, one of several possible strategies to develop generic technology. It investigates the institutionalization of this strategy in the U.S., Europe, and Japan, government strategies to enhance international competitiveness, maintain domestic fair competition, and promote successful collaboration. It also discusses funding strategy as a crucial direct inducement for rival firms to cooperate.

Chapter 5 follows the main arguments in the brief East-West comparison concerning the three types of technology-targeting programs in Chapter 1. It reviews science and technology development institutions and general innovation situations in the East, investigates mainly military, nuclear power, and computer technology programs in the former USSR and some East European countries, and elaborates on collaborative R&D within the framework of the former Council for Mutual Economic Assistance.

Chapter 6, the concluding part of this thesis, briefly summarizes the main findings and implications of the whole thesis and proposes mission-oriented and diffusion-oriented technology policy paradigms as a theoretical synthesis. The author acknowledges the help of Prof. Thomas Lee and Prof. Friedrich Schmidt-Bleek and their respective organizations in pursuing this research.