Introduction to the Special Issue on automotive industry in emerging Asian countries

Abstract

This Special Issue focuses on the interaction between external and internal resources leading to building up and/or enhancing the innovation capabilities of firms in emerging Asian countries, with special references to the roles of universities and public research institutes in assisting local firms to develop innovative capabilities. The automotive sector has been selected as a case study. The results illustrate that the crucial internal factors are firms' technology strategy and strategic intent, learning process, and absorptive capacity, while the important external factors are demand and product life cycle, and regulation and policy environment.

Keywords:

• internal and external capability
• interaction
• universities
• public research institutes
• emerging Asian automotive sector

Acknowledgements

The articles in this Special Issue are the result of two ERIA supporting study projects for the ERIA Research Project on ‘The Comprehensive Asian Development Plan: Phase 2’, carried out in 2010. The editors of this Special Issue would like to express their deep and sincere gratitude to Hidetoshi Nishimura, Executive Director and Fukunari Kimura, Chief Economist of ERIA. The views expressed in this Special Issue are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the organizations.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Patarapong Intarakumnerd

Patarapong Intarakumnerd is now affiliated with National Graduate Research Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), Japan.

Yasushi Ueki

Yasushi Ueki is now affiliated with the Institute of Developing Economies, Inter-disciplinary Studies Center, Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO), Mihama Wakaba Chiba, Japan.