Innovative competitors in emerging economies
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Högskolan i Gävle - Akademin för Teknik och Miljö |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 5 917 512 |
| Project duration | November 2014 - July 2017 |
| Status | Completed |
Important results from the project
The purpose has been to analyse how innovative industrial firms in emerging economies in short time have developed capabilities for innovative and advanced product development, and what Sweden-based firms can learn from this. The project has met the goals of developing scientific knowledge on the rapid innovatve firms and contributed to strategic knowledge within collalborating Swedish firms on how the challenges may be met through competition and/or collaboration.
Expected long term effects
The project has identified technological and market factors that explain the rapid development of innovative capabilties in studied firms, and shown how these rapid innovators can develop products of high quality to lower costs. The capabilties are built on R&D investments, organising for rapid product development, access to skilled labour and lowcost base. The porject identifed strategies for Swedish firms regarding technological leadership, lower costs, learning and strategic collaborations.
Approach and implementation
The project included: (1) case studies of innovative firms in different industries (construction equipment, aircrafts, heat transfer and telecom) in China, Turkey and Brazil; (2) patent portfolio studies; (3) analysis of world bank survey data; (4) workshops with Swedish firms and (5) dissemination of results in publications, a film and a larger public seminar. The project was successfully run by University of Gävle, Linköping University, Volvo CE, Saab Aeronautics, Atlas Copco and Alfa Laval.