Investigating Long-Term Technological Competitiveness: Originality, Generality, and Longevity

Abstract

The evaluation and international comparison of technological competitiveness has received considerable attention from policymakers over the past decades. Technological competitiveness has been considered a desired outcome of technological innovation, which has become pivotal for a country`s economic growth in this era of a global knowledge economy. Government efforts have increasingly shifted toward a long-term perspective of building a solid foundation for continually generating value from technological innovations. This suggests that progress comes in waves, each originating from a major breakthrough or generating potential wide applications. However, little is known regarding the long-term effects of research and development (R&D) on technological competitiveness at the aggregation levels of industries and countries. This article aims to provide an advanced understanding of the term technological competitiveness to enhance its usefulness for the evaluation of country and industry performance and for policy conclusions. This article attempts to propose revised originality, generality, and newly proposed longevity indicators at industry and country levels to evaluate long-term technological competitiveness. Regarding the long-term evaluation of technological competitiveness, this article argues that the originality, generality, and longevity of R&D are features of technological progress that are vital for triggering innovation, and they are becoming increasingly crucial for long-term competitiveness.