• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.49-67
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• 2009

As technological capabilities have enhanced, the patterns of innovation activities of latecomer firms changed to post catch-up mode. The purpose of this research is to analyze the post catch-up innovation patterns of technology-intensive small and medium firms of Korea. The innovation patterns can be divided into three types: the technology deepening innovation type, the new technology based innovation type and the architectural innovation type. The characteristics of the technology deepening innovation type are cumulative technological learning and the integration of new generic technology and existing technologies. The characteristics of new technology based type are the acquisition and revelations of new basic knowledges from former incubating organizations such as large firms and universities. The characteristics of the architectural innovation type are the learning of system architecture knowledge from former organization and interactive learning with user firms. These post catch up innovations also have some general characteristics. They effectively exploited the windows of opportunities which are opened in the middle of technological paradigm change.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.1-35
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• 2010

This study analyzes the necessity of integrated innovation policy for post catch-up innovation. The integrated innovation policy solidifies its position as an infrastructure innovation policy which forms the foundation of all kinds of policies. The Korean government is currently under the pressure of planning technologies and policies that do not allow any easy imitation or copy of other advanced countries, which in turn reveals various limits of the existing policy framework. Integrated innovation policy for post catch-up innovation involves a continual process demanding changes in political, organizational and procedural activities. To ensure long-term and cross-sectoral innovation policy, overall changes and improvements in policy and its implementation are needed in terms of political commitments, governance systems, policy instruments and monitoring, and evaluation systems.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.6 no.2 s.12
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• pp.45-75
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• 2006

This study analyzed the meanings and drives, and government roles in NIS transformation process. Specifically, I deal with changes in the S&T policy and S&T public administration system as NIS changed from catch-up to post catch-up. As a result, S&T policy and administrative structure has changed as key elements of a new form of steering the transformation process. Though changed from direct to indirect, the role of the state remains strong in 'vision creation' and 'discursive coordination' as supporter and facilitator of the NIS transformation process. Especially, administration structure has been changed to strengthen decentralized pluralism and linkages and cooperation between government and private, between firms and universities, among inter related ministries.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.115-154
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• 2017

This article offers a review of the major literature about sectoral innovation studies of Korea and its implications over the past 30 years. The literature on the sectoral innovation studies in Korea has focused on analysing successful technological catch-up from an evolutionary perspective and most of research has centered on the issues about entry strategies, learning mechanisms. Recently "Emerging economies" like Korea in the 2000s face major challenges as they make a transition from (a) a phase of economic development characterised by 'catching up' with the global technological frontier, involving technological "imitation", to (b) a phase of continuing development based on the development of new knowledge for globally leading (post catch-up) product and process innovation. This paper reviews those bodies of literature of patterns of sectoral innovation, technological capability accumulation and catch-up process, catch-up innovation and institutions, and patterns of growth dynamics. Finally, given the importance of sectoral innovation studies, we suggest that industrial upgrading, transition towards leadership, dark side of catch-up issues are needed for future research directions.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.85-113
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• 2013

This study analyzes the government-funded research institutions as players which derive inner transition based on technology, policy and market environment changes. In this study, the main case is KRICT(Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology) which tries to make post catch-up innovation in the organization. This institution has attempted to overcome the limitation such as change of technology paradigm and PBS(Project Based System) since 2000's. Responding to the needs of technology convergence and innovation by the paradigm change, KRICT has reformed organization and R&D management system prospectively. And this institution sets the goal like development of natural friendly technologies, small and medium-sized business support, and providing countermeasures of social problems. This case shows possibility of continuous innovation. There are some structural limitation like budget restriction, multiple organization structure, and biased quantitative assessment, but endogenous efforts of government -funded institutions make the new paradigm of post catch-up innovation.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.303-330
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• 2013

Korea has started new value creation which is the post catch-up innovation system from the catch-up innovation. Post catch-up innovation system is becoming the main R&D issue for Korea and is needed for the new concept of R&D management and planning frame. This study posed questionnaires : how to promote the knowledge creation in technology planning and what the role of organizational learning in the technology planning is. This paper suggests the relationship of success factors of knowledge creation in technology planning which is organized and operated by experts with different background. Based on the prior research on organizational learning, communications and collaborative interactions, four hypotheses that factors of knowledge creation in technology planning have positive relationship with organizational learning are extracted. This study adopts Structural Equation Modeling(SEM) to analyze the relationship between organizational learning and successful technology planning. The approach based on organizational learning and interaction will be useful for constructing the planning framework in the era of post catch-up innovation. This paper, therefore, suggests the possibility of new theoretical development and new research agenda.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.79-102
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• 2009

This study reviews the issue of public interests of technologies required in industrial technology policy as well as the demand for changes in industrial technology policy as result of the migration from catch-up to post catch-up innovation system. In fact, the importance of public interests which served as the rationale for government intervention in industrial technology policy have gradually faded, which invited controversies over the legitimacy and effectiveness of government intervention in promoting specific technologies or industries. Today, the existing policy framework has to change to correspond to the post catch-up environment which requires creative technology development. In this context, the Korean government needs to reduce direct support for certain companies or technologies, but increase R&D investment in energy, environment and health and welfare to enhance public interests of technology innovation activities.

• Asian Journal of Innovation and Policy
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.138-151
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• 2017

This aim of the study is to show the necessity of implementing an industrial innovation strategy with consideration given to characteristics of the industrial technology. The relationship between industrial technological characteristics and innovation performance is analyzed by using an innovation survey as well as a human capital corporate panel (HCCP). The time-lag effect is also examined. Findings of the analysis show that high-tech industries have entered the post catch-up technology innovation stage in the mid-2000s, but low-tech industries still seem to stay in the catch-up stage. In terms of technology policy, the additional technology innovation support policy should focus on enhancing the innovation capability of the middle and low technology industries, since high technology industries are already developing their own innovation capability. It is necessary to strengthen capacity building through technical cooperation with technology consulting, rather than providing technical support through suppliers.

• Journal of Korea Technology Innovation Society
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.700-716
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• 2010

This paper examines the development of smelting reduction process in POSCO from 1990 to 2007 with the perspective of post catch-up technological innovation. POSCO paid attention to smelting reduction process as a sort of next-generation iron and steel technology, and implemented COREX (coal ore reduction) by the cooperation with V$\"{o}$oest. In addition to this, POSCO started to develop FINEX (fine iron ore reduction) which can use abundant powder ore, and FINEX was developed through model plant, pilot plant, demo plant, and commercial facility. POSCO came up to innovation leader beyond fast follower by securing almost technologies concerning FINEX. The case of smelting reduction process shows various characteristics including appropriate technological choice, successive scale-up, spiral development system, complementary technological cooperation, long-tenn investment, the existence of top management's leadership, and Korean government's support in early stage. This case can be interpreted as a path-revealing innovation in the middle of technological paradigm change.

• Journal of Science and Technology Studies
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.29-49
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• 2009

This study not only suggests a methodology of science planning different from technology planning, but also applies the methodology to the case of astronomy and space science project. Throughout the analysis on this practice, we have provided logical tools for science project planning, and have identified a decision making process in science which has been regarded to be in a 'black box'. Therefore, this science planning technique can contribute to a more rationalized allocation of scientific resource at a project level as well as at a national level. In particular, catch-up countries in a transition to post catch-up stage such as Korea can establish a more efficient national R&D system by application of science planning concept to an emerging technology area.