Technology transfer: the case of the Korean electronics industry

Technology is transferred through various channels by many different agents. The Korean electronics industry has been heavily dependent upon licensing from foreign firms. The level of technology in the Korean electronics industry nearly matches that of developed countries in terms of generalized products. However, Korea falls behind in both basic engineering and in the production of parts and materials as well as fundamental technologies for designing and producing new products. The lesson is that a nation must develop its own indigenous technological capabilities in order to gain leverage in much more advantageous technological transfer arrangement