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This paper explores the industrial specialisation of latecomer countries, particularly Korea and Taiwan, which are often referred to as successful catch-up cases. The traditional wisdom is that the ‘developmental state’, resource leverage, and technological sophistication in an export-oriented strategy have been the factors for success. However, firm strategies and a supportive government are not sufficient to explain the different features of catch-up patterns. In this paper we propose that differences in industrial specialisation of catch-up countries are attributable to the interaction between technological characteristics and institutional settings, including corporate organisation, industrial structure, and the role of the public sector. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Highlights: [•] Paper presents post-catch-up innovation activities in Korea based on case studies. [•] Approached from coevolution of PLC and national innovation system. [•] Three directions were observed: Deepening process, architectural, and radical innovations. [•] Also catch-up sys may act as obstacle to transition due to institutional rigidity. [•] Suggests the need for new expansion of the existing PLC theory for latecomers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Investigates the evolution of technological capabilities of semiconductor firms in South Korea. Definition of technological capabilities in the context of latecomer firms; Empirical data analysis of chaebol firms; Rate and direction of technological capability enhancement.

This paper explores the patterns of knowledge production of science and engineering from catching-up via overtaking to the achievement of leadership in global industries. In particular, it examines the depth and direction of knowledge production with proxy variables of patents and bibliometric data of a latecomer firm. Moreover, it explores the changing patterns of knowledge sourcing in the firm during the transition from catch-up to forging ahead and with specific references to the experience of Samsung Electronics Company. This study shows that the patterns of scientific and engineering activities increased as the firm proceeds to the forging ahead period, the patterns of knowledge sourcing evolved in the direction of increasing importance of the domestic knowledge base, and the collaborative partners for generating knowledge changed as the firm's capabilities were enhanced to approach cutting-edge technologies. This paper illuminates the importance of intraorganizational capabilities and domestic knowledge bases to advance a latecomer firm's knowledge generating capabilities into a stage of forging ahead. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]