Convergence innovation of the textile machinery industry in Korea

Abstract

This paper aims to explore why the Korean textile machinery industry failed in competence building although its strong user sector, the textile industry of Korea, was once ranked high with strong competence. It argues that local user firms of the textile machinery industry did not play a role in building up the competence of specialised suppliers through convergence innovation. The diversity of textile machinery is so large that their convergence types of innovation are distinctive in creating new functions and products. The convergence innovation between the two industries and the resultant positive synergy has not been generated much in Korea. Strong user firms rather escaped from cooperative work with specialised suppliers, which otherwise may have generated convergence innovation and strengthened their competence. Weak convergence innovation by both textile firms and specialised suppliers caused their economic activities concurrently downturned. The Korean textile machinery industry and its user sector have lost their competence in relatively short period.