• 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.

• STI Policy Review
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.39-51
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• 2010

Korea faces challenges from the recent development catch-up countries and the absence of catch up incentives. For Korea to solve the issue of post catch-up problems and create a new development path based on creative innovation, there is an urgent need to secure a system design capability for the production of creative knowledge and talent that can create a competitive society. However, the conservative inclination and a lack of a customer-oriented attitude of Korean universities and professors leads to a standardization of talent and a passive restructuring of the curriculum by universities instead of a direct correspondence with the demands of companies and society. The compatibility of Korean university education with the demands of society remains the lowest in the world and creative education in Korea faces a difficult situation. The world is transforming from a knowledge-based economy to a creativity-based economy and a competitive society will led by creativity, not by knowledge. The success of a country in nurturing creative talent will determine its future national competitiveness. For Korea to be become a global leader in the new era of creativity, it needs to make proactive preparations. It is imperative for Korea to transform the educational system from the previous cramming system to a creativity-nurturing system.

• 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.

• 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 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 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.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.

• The Journal of Small Business Innovation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.53-68
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• 2016

Motivation and activities for technological learning, entrepreneurship, innovation, and creativity are driving forces of economic development in Asian countries. In the early stages of technological development, technological learning and entrepreneurship are efficient ways in which to catch up with advanced countries because firms can accumulate skills and knowledge quickly at relatively low risk. In the later stages of technological development, however, innovation and creativity become more important. This study aims to identify a) the factors (learning capabilities) that influence technological learning performance and b) barriers to enhancing innovation capabilities for the creative economy and organizations. The major part of this study is related to learning capabilities in the post-catch-up era. Based on a literature review and observations from Korean experiences, this study proposes a technological learning model composed of various influencing factors on technological learning. Three hypotheses are derived, and data are collected from Korean machine tool manufacturers. Intense interviews with CEOs and R&D directors are conducted using structured questionnaires. Statistical analysis, such as correlation and ANOVA are then carried out. Furthermore, this study addresses how to enhance innovation capabilities to move forward. Innovation enablers and barriers are identified by case studies and policy analysis. The results of the empirical study identify several levels of firms' learning capabilities and activities such as a) stock of technology, b) potential of technical labor, c) explicit technological efforts, d) readiness to learn, e) top management support, f) a formal technological learning system, g) high learning motivation, h) appropriate technology choice, and i) specific goal setting. These learning capabilities determine firms' learning performance, especially in the early stages of development. Furthermore, it is found that the critical factors for successful technological learning vary along the stages of technology development. Throughout the statistical and policy analyses, this study confirms that technological learning can be understood as an intrinsic principle of the technology development process. Firms perform proactive and creative learning in the late stages, while reactive and imitative learning prevails in the early stages. In addition, this study identifies the driving forces or facilitating factors enhancing innovation performance in the post catch-up era. The results of the preliminary case studies and policy analysis show some facilitating factors such as a) the strategic intent of the CEO and corporate culture, b) leadership and change agents, c) design principles and routines, d) ecosystem and collaboration with partners, and e) intensive R&D investment.

• 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.