The Study On Technological Learning Channels In Chinese Development Zones

All types of development zones in China, the state-level development zones in particular, are the most space-intensive field where the various forces interact, including globalization, localization and government. Becoming more and more important are local network channels, global network channels and the "global-local" nexuses between channels, which act as the bridges and ties of regional innovation and regional development. As the forefront of high-level synthetical theory, learning field theory is the most important theoretical basis of the full text on technological learning channels of development zones. The concept of "technological learning channel" is defined in the framework of learning field theory. On this basis, a wide range of research methods are synthetically used in the dissertation, such as the literature analysis, investigations and interviews, induction and deduction, comparative analysis, mathematical and statistical analysis, ArcGIS, and so on. With the case study of Suzhou Industrial Park as the primary springboard, the more thorough explorations are conducted in the following dimensions: the diverse types of learning field of development zones; the progress and mechanisms of localization networking and local embeddedness of the multinational companies; the development zones embedded in external nexus channels (e.g. global production networks); the channels and future development patterns of transition of development zones.Between "technological learning channel" and "relationship/network" and "embeddedness" stands an inherent unified logic relationship. To a large extent, the type and evolution of the learning field is shaped and determined by "technological learning channel". The learning field is inspected and verified by the coexistence of diversified types of learning field in development zones which are identified through in-depth investigations and interviews. The highly aggregate multinational corporations, which have the significant trend and spatial proximity for the important transport infrastructure and innovation carrier, undergo a complex process regarding their localization networking and local embeddedness. Furthermore, there is a process of interaction and evolution at different levels between development zones and external nexus channels. As far as technological learning channels are concerned, the main forces of channel creation in development zones comprise multinational corporations, local enterprises and the government. Technological learning and innovation of the main actors in development zones rely on "internal channels" and "external channels" as well as the nexus of internal and external "channels", so the maintenance and upgrade of the dynamic competitive advantage depends on the innovation networks of continuous expansion to the global end and local end. This means that it depends on the breakthrough for the original paths and the creation of the new development paths/channels. Therefore, the future evolutionary transition patterns of development zones hinge on the creation and heterozygosity of the diversified nexus channels.The main conclusions can be summarized as follows: (1)The studies on technological learning channel deepen and enrich the understanding of learning field; (2) there is the coexistence of the diversified types of learning field in development zones; (3) Complexity is a main characteristic for the localization networking and local embeddedness of multinational companies, and there is the reverse characteristic of basic understanding process in terms of process mechanism from the "geographical proximity" to the "relational proximity" to the "institutional proximity"; (4)Technological learning channel is characteristic of diversity by itself, and there is a process of interaction and evolution at different levels between development zones and technological learning channels.; (5)Multinational corporations, local enterprises and the government are the main forces of channel creation in development zones; (6)The future evolutionary patterns of development zones are dependent on the creation and heterozygosity of the diversified nexus channels.The main innovations lie in the following items: (1)Learning field theory is verified and improved through the definition of "technological learning channel" and the case studies; (2)The process and mechanism of localization networking and local embeddedness is processed with a new perspective; (3)The understanding of the transition of development zones is deepened.This dissertation consists of eight chapters.The first chapter gives an introduction to the research background, research significance, research content and research methods. It demonstrates that the "channels", which is conceived as the media of learning and innovation and building relations and networks, have become more and more important for innovation and transformation of development zones at the background of the rapid development of globalization as well as the transformation of development zones. As the starting point, the innovation and transformation of development zones could be summarized by virtue of several concise theoretical issues.The second chapter makes a systematic review of development zones and theoretical perspectives, technological learning and innovation, technological learning patterns, technological learning channels and other related fields. Literature review indicates that the concept of "channel" is widely used in the research, but in fact it has always been neglected and has not been accorded enough attention.The third chapter gives a description of the theoretical basis of this dissertation. The "Global Production Networks" provides the important source of ideas for the dissertation; the "Learning Field", the most direct theoretical basis.The fourth chapter offers an analysis and definition of the concept, characteristics and types of "technological learning channel". The relationship between structures and types of "learning field" and "technological learning channel" is the focus of attention. The fifth chapter identifies the internal logic between the "relation/network", "embeddedness" and "technological learning channel". On this basis, the co-existence of diversiform types of "learning field" is identified at the Suzhou Industrial Park. Overall, "external embeddedness" is a prominent characteristics at the Suzhou Industrial Park, but its status as a "production base" has not changed. From the perspective of "technological learning channel" and evolution, "government/policy channel", "relational channels" and "value-chain channel" play a major role in the process of local networking and local embedding of transnational corporations.The sixth chapter focuses on the external channels of development zone. Multinational corporations, global value chains and global production networks are the main external channels which technological innovation activities of development zones must rely on. As an important external linkages and channels of technological upgrading of the development zones, multinational corporations display the significant characteristics of spatial clustering. In the process of embedding global value chains, the two types of learning field (the "OEM-type" based on "external embeddedness" and the "endogenous-type" based on the "internal embeddedness") co-exist in the development zones. To varying degrees various types of development zones in China are embedded in the global production networks, but the global production networks is not only dominated by multinational companies, but also acts as the important channels through which multinational companies achieve its strategic intent.The seventh chapter aims at investigating the channels and patterns ranging from "manufacturing base" to "innovation base". The creation of technological learning channel is the key factor for the transformation of development zones from "manufacturing base" to "innovation base". On the one hand, the government is a major force of creating "technological learning channel". On the other hand, the transformation of the pattern of technological learning in development zones requires a link between global production networks and local production networks, as well as a "strategic coupling" between global production networks and local production networks and the government. In addition, for the development zones, the core of "path creation" is that the local government of development zones and local enterprises make the mindful deviation to the original path so that the new organizational and technological paths continue to emerge in the development zones, and so that local enterprises of development zones could depart from the reliance on "embedded" strategic intent production networks dominated by multinational companies.The eighth chapter makes a summary of the main conclusions on the basis of the findings in the previous chapters and refers to both the drawbacks of this dissertation and further research orientation.