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Innovation in China: the rise of Chinese inventors in the production of knowledge

Author

Listed:
  • Rachel Griffith

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and University of Manchester)

  • Helen Miller

    (Institute for Fiscal Studies and Institute for Fiscal Studies)

Abstract

In 2010 China was the world's fourth largest filer of patent applications. This followed a decade of unprecedented increases in investment in skills and Research and Development. If current trends continue China could rank first in the very near future. We provide evidence that the growth in Chinese patenting activity has been accompanied by a growth in Chinese inventors creating technologies that are near to the science base. Part of the success of China has been to attract the investment of foreign multinationals. This is also true for a number of other Emerging Economies. Europe's largest multinational firms increasingly file patent applications that are based on inventor activities located in emerging economies, often working alongside inventors from the firm's home country.

Suggested Citation

  • Rachel Griffith & Helen Miller, 2011. "Innovation in China: the rise of Chinese inventors in the production of knowledge," IFS Working Papers W11/15, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    • Handle: RePEc:ifs:ifsewp:11/15
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Iizuka, M. & Thutupalli, A., 2014. "Globalization, the rise of biotechnology and catching up in agricultural innovation: The case of Bt technology in India," MERIT Working Papers 2014-054, United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and Social Research Institute on Innovation and Technology (MERIT).
    2. Chu, Angus C. & Cozzi, Guido & Galli, Silvia, 2014. "Stage-dependent intellectual property rights," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 239-249.
    3. Xiaohui Liu & Jiangyong Lu & Seong-jin Choi, 2014. "Bridging Knowledge Gaps: Returnees and Reverse Knowledge Spillovers from Chinese Local Firms to Foreign Firms," Management International Review, Springer, vol. 54(2), pages 253-276, April.
    4. International Monetary Fund [IMF], 2018. "World Economic Outlook, April 2018: Cyclical Upswing, Structural Change," Working Papers id:12768, eSocialSciences.
    5. Giuditta De Prato & Daniel Nepelski, 2012. "Global R&D network. A network analysis of international R&D centres," JRC Research Reports JRC79478, Joint Research Centre, revised Nov 2012.
    6. Soonwoo Kwon & Jihong Lee & Sokbae (Simon) Lee, 2014. "International trends in technological progress: stylized facts from patent citations, 1980-2011," CeMMAP working papers CWP16/14, Centre for Microdata Methods and Practice, Institute for Fiscal Studies.
    7. Kyriakos Drivas & Claire Economidou & Konstantinos N. Konstantakis & Panayotis G. Michaelides, 2022. "Technological Leaders, Laggards and Spillovers: A Network GVAR Analysis," Open Economies Review, Springer, vol. 33(2), pages 231-269, April.
    8. Laura Abramovsky & Rachel Griffith & Helen Miller, 2017. "Domestic Effects of Offshoring High-skilled Jobs: Complementarities in Knowledge Production," Review of International Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 25(1), pages 1-20, February.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    China; innovation; offshoring; patents.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • F21 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - International Investment; Long-Term Capital Movements
    • F23 - International Economics - - International Factor Movements and International Business - - - Multinational Firms; International Business
    • O3 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Innovation; Research and Development; Technological Change; Intellectual Property Rights

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