An Analysis Of Technological Innovation Capability In Low-tech And Medium-low-tech Industries

As the advance of economic globalization and the coming of knowledge economy, many governments have focused more attention on the development of high-tech industries, which have been regarded as the engine of future economy. By contrast, "the non-high-tech sectors" (such as low-tech and medium-low-tech industries) have been censured for many handicaps, such as serious pollution, high consumption, low output and low efficiency, which cannot be overcome in traditional tech system. As a result, governments and scholars gradually regard such sectors as "the sunset industry", which receive less attention and support.However, the PILOT(Policy and Innovation in Low-tech)project of Europe have conducted a large number of case studies, from which they found that nearly all low-tech sectors are innovative and still have great potential for development. Compared with Europe, the overall development level of China's manufacturing is lower, LMT sectors still have accounted for a large proportion of economy. How to effectively promote technology innovation in LMT sectors and improve the overall level of manufacturing has haven a very important significance for China's economic development in the post-crisis era.Based on the concept of technology innovation and the related theories, according to classification of manufacturing industries of OECD, the scientific definition of China's LMT industries is made by using Cluster Analysis. Analysis suggests that it is R&D intensity by which LMT industries is different from high-tech industries. By constructing the index system of industries'technology innovation ability, this paper pointed out that LMT industries have some disadvantages in S&T funds investment, human resource structure and innovation intensity, etc. Further analysis found that they have many underlying causes, not only in historical and external aspects, but also in LMT sectors'own terms. To solve these problems, we must rethink about the role of LMT industries, the symbiotic relationship between LMT industries and high-tech sectors, innovation in LMT industries and their comparative advantages.