Science, Technology, and Innovation Policy: High-tech Industry Growth in China

This dissertation is an analysis of the ways in which Chinese central government science, technology, and innovation (STI) policies are shaping the country's development trajectory in the 21st century. The study investigates the relationship between STI policy and development in China in order to understand whether the two are in congruence as the Country continues the rapid growth trajectory it has experienced over recent years. This work uses nanotechnology as a case study to analyze whether efforts by the Chinese central government have been successful in elevating the research and development output of the emerging economy. 72 semi-structured interviews were conducted in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the United States and additional data was collected and analyzed in order to understand the impact of state-led nanotechnology policy.;China (among other emerging economies) is convinced that it must strengthen its capabilities across the entire value chain rather than focusing on its manufacturing sector alone. The country's overarching goal is to become an "innovation-oriented" society by the year 2020. The importance placed on innovation in China's approach to growth and development---as compared with the strategy of the U.S. through its National Nanotechnology Initiative is of central concern to this study. In China, as in the U.S., nanotechnology is being funded largely through government sources, with much of the funding being directed toward basic research despite the fact that both countries have placed significant hope on the commercialization potential of the emerging technology area. This project examines the role played by government policies in fostering advances in nanotechnology from multiple locations along the nanotechnology value chain in looking at the promises and pitfalls of state-led economic development.