Globalisation of technology development: offshoring of R&D to China, India and Brazil

Abstract

Fundamental shifts in the mode, the geography and the personnel of global technology development are taking place in the wake of increasing globalisation of economies and rapid technological changes. Many large multinational corporations are focusing on building global innovation networks, comprising of R&D units located in clusters of excellence around the world, including many developing economies. In this paper we take a close look at this emerging phenomenon – particularly the developments taking place in China, India and Brazil. By using US patents as indicators, this study seeks to detect the trends in the technical activities, the innovative capability, the ownership of the intellectual property and the quality of technology developed in these countries.