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From lab to market? Strategies and issues in the commercialization of nanotechnology in China

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Abstract

Nanotechnology is expected by many to be one of the next drivers of technology-based business and economic growth. China has emerged as a global player in nanotechnology development, and now ranks second (after the United States) in nanotechnology scientific publications produced annually. The study of nanotechnology offers a lens to examine China's capabilities to move closer to the frontier of technology-led economic development, explore the evolving Chinese innovation system, and assess the effectiveness of policy strategies to modernize and add-value to research and industry in China. Supported by new policy initiatives and funding, hundreds of institutions and thousands of researchers in China are engaged in nanotechnology R&D. Yet, although Chinese nanotechnology research has scale, the pathways from laboratory research to successful commercialization remain problematic. Chinese performance in nanotechnology patenting and product development is weak relative to its research strength, suggesting a significant gap between the research base and industrial development. Drawing on bibliometric research and field interviews with Chinese nanotechnology policymakers, researchers and business representatives, we analyze this gap, explore the factors contributing to it and assess future commercialization trajectories.

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Notes

  1. This article draws on global databases of nanotechnology publications and patents developed at Georgia Institute of Technology using the definition of nanotechnology and methods described in Porter et al (2008). The data sets cover the period 1990–2006 (mid) and include more than 400 000 nanotechnology publication records in the Web of Science's Science Citation Index (SCI) and nearly 54 000 abstracts of nanotechnology patents awarded in this time frame obtained from the MicroPatents database. It is recognized that SCI varies in strength by subject area (SCI is excellent for most life and physical sciences, but not quite as strong in chemical, medical and engineering research.) Also, SCI does not cover all scientific journals, and in its coverage is weaker for scientific journals that publish in languages other than English. The patents database covers the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), European Patent Office (EPO), Japan Patent Office (JPO), World Intellectual Property Office, and multiple national patent offices including those of Germany, Great Britain, France and China.

  2. To put this in perspective, we note that in the United States and increasingly in other advanced countries, there is also strong encouragement for researchers to publish in journals, including those indexed by SCI, and journal publication is a major factor in promotion and tenure.

  3. Lin and Zhang (2007) find that Chinese-language SCI publications in nanotechnology have increased rapidly in recent years, supported by a growing community of mainland Chinese nanotechnology researchers (including students as well as senior researchers lacking English capabilities).

  4. In some institutions, graduate students can seek patents as an alternative to publishing journal papers to secure their degrees. This pathway is not yet common among Chinese students (one reason being that papers can be published more rapidly than patents can be filed, examined and awarded).

  5. Other leading universities are as ambitious as CAS in incubating businesses and in acquiring intellectual property (IP). As measured by the ratio of SIPO patents to SCI papers, Tsinghua University produces one patent for every 13.5 papers, which is similar to the ratio for CAS (one patent per 13.1 papers). Among the leading universities, Shanghai Jiao Tong University is particularly focused on IP relative to publications, receiving one patent for every 5.5 papers published.

  6. This is not a problem exclusive to China. University science and technology parks around the world often are not as strong as anticipated in fostering university–company linkages (see, for example, Phan et al, 2005).

  7. Neither of these two Chinese companies analyzed by Lux held US patents, although they did hold Chinese patents.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Center for Nanotechnology in Society at Arizona State University (CNS-ASU) under National Science Foundation Award 0531194. The findings in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. Li Tang greatly assisted in the organization and conduct of field research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manchester Institute of Innovation Research, Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    Philip Shapira

  2. School of Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, 30332-0345, Georgia, USA

    Philip Shapira

  3. Department of Public Administration, Florida International University, Miami, 33199, Florida, USA

    Jue Wang

  4. Georgia Tech Program in Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

    Jue Wang

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  1. Philip Shapira
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Correspondence to Philip Shapira.

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Shapira, P., Wang, J. From lab to market? Strategies and issues in the commercialization of nanotechnology in China. Asian Bus Manage 8, 461–489 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1057/abm.2009.15

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