China’s Changing Socio-Economic Context

Abstract

The key remaining issue to be discussed, which was not explored in Chapter 5, is the influence of the wider social and economic context of the country in which technology development takes place. This is also one of the two major concerns of this study, and is essential to the effectiveness of utilising foreign advanced technologies and building up indigenous technological capabilities. This chapter focuses on the link between technological development and the restructuring of the national system of innovation during China’s social and economic transition from a centrally controlled socialist state to a more market oriented system.