Technological Supremacy Research Articles

Evolving governance in the space sector: From Legacy Space to New Space models

The space sector is evolving from the “Legacy Space” to the “New Space”. Along with the space sector, space program governance is transitioning to support an environment where legacy and New Space actors co-exist. The aforementioned transitions and the entry of New Space players result in new governance models, as space agencies aim to exploit contributions from non-space sectors, leveraging on collaborative opportunities.Public-private partnerships (PPPs) become a new golden rule, disclosing unprecedented achievements.However, the existing body of knowledge lacks a framing of models of space program governance, covering both Legacy Space programs and New Space ones. It is not clear how the roles and responsibilities of stakeholders change from the Legacy Space to the New Space, alongside the related changes in contract structures and the practices space agencies favour in current space programs and projects. Therefore, our paper aims to investigate how space program governance evolved.We performed a single-case study on NASA-led space exploration programs to investigate the transition of space program governance and its actual state-of-the-art. We co-developed and validated three governance models for space programs through semi-structured interviews with senior experts. Furthermore, we present key drivers and barriers behind the evolution towards New Space governance models.We found and discussed three program governance models corresponding to the evolutionary stages of space exploration programs. In the Legacy Space model, the government owns space infrastructures to demonstrate technological supremacy. In the Transitional model, lumpsum contracts, transitioning between cost-plus and fixed-price, replace the legacy EPC (Engineering, Production, Construction) ones. In the New Space model, collaborative efforts and PPPs enable alignment between public and private expertise. Finally, we examine the factors that promote and impede the evolution of space governance, leading to the emergence of a polycentric governance structure observed in current space programs.The three models enable managers to visualize space programs from a governance perspective, where stakeholders’ roles and responsibilities in PPPs are clearly identified. Moreover, managers can leverage and innovate existing practices for transitioning across different models of governance in space programs and projects.We contribute to research by introducing a transitional governance model that enables the smooth transition between the Legacy Space and the New Space paradigms. We justify the concurrent adoption of multiple governance models within the same space program, as in the current Artemis program.

Promoting corporate independent innovation through judicial protection of intellectual property rights

This study examines the impact of judicial protection of intellectual property rights on firms' independent innovation. Using a staggered difference-in-differences model with panel data from Chinese manufacturing listed businesses (2014–2021) and the successive establishment of intellectual property courts in Chinese prefectural-level cities as a quasi-natural experiment, we find that establishing intellectual property courts in China encourages businesses to accumulate more technology-based intangible assets. Mechanism analysis suggests that judicial intellectual property protection enhances enterprises' independent innovation capacity by establishing a conducive institutional framework. This stimulating effect is particularly significant for industry-leading companies with technological supremacy. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that judicial intellectual property protection increases the generation of patents and trade secrets, with a more pronounced effect on firms receiving higher government research and development subsidies and better tax incentives. This study offers valuable insights for policymakers to encourage corporate independent innovation.

The Crisis of Technology and the Quest for Meaning: A Critical Conception of Media Philosophy

The crisis of modern technology has led to a series of issues such as the pervasive emptiness of meaning and the loss of subjectivity in human society. Under the influence of technological supremacy and instrumental rationality, philosophy, which abstractly refines the fundamental problems faced by humanity such as the meaning of existence, truth, and the dichotomy between rationality and irrationality, also finds itself in a crisis of legitimacy. In this context, the "media turn" in philosophy is an attempt to break free from its shackles. This paper proposes a media philosophy from the essential attributes of human communication and the inseparability of communication and media. By analyzing communication as a fundamental human essence, this paper outlines the basic concept of media philosophy, explores the path of media philosophy, and emphasizes the inherent significance of the collision of life's meanings and communicative exchanges. This paper asserts that in the era of "media as being" ontology, it is especially necessary to understand the essence of human existence and the face of the world constituted by communication from the perspective of media.

The Great Decoupling: China, America and the Struggle for Technological Supremacy

In 12 substantive chapters, the author provides a comprehensive diagnosis of the state of play of the relationship between China and the US, up to the Trump-Xi period. The book’s thesis is that the two countries, the largest in the world across a number of measures (most importantly economic and military) are headed for an inevitable divergence, fuelled by misunderstanding, misalignment, and competing ambitions. This, of course, is nothing new and has been the subject of many academic and journalistic commentaries. But where Inkster stands out is in his focus on technology, an artefact important to every civilisation, and one which becomes a motivation and a weapon for integration or divergence. The book’s title gives a clue as to which camp Inkster falls within. This is no mere new cold war, he argues (though much of his argument fits squarely with much of that burgeoning and increasingly attention-worthy literature). That analogy misses a lot that is different in the US-PRC formation compared to its US-USSR example. It is more akin to the UK-German pre-WWI and US-Japan pre-Pearl Harbour situations; add to that the fuel of the narrative of the century of humiliation, authoritarian rule, and ingenuity and you have a highly motivated government and society in China.

Can de-risking avert supply chain precarity in the face of China-U.S. geopolitical tensions? From sanctions to semiconductor resilience and national security

As a main driver of geoeconomic power, technological supremacy is at stake in the current zero-sum tech war between the U.S. and China. Semiconductor chips have become an emerging geopolitical frontier in the rivalry of the two powers. Since the confrontation has intensified, the U.S. seeks to weaponise its dominant position in the global semiconductor value chain (GSVC). Some industrial policy-driven geostrategic approaches inform the race to reduce the GSVC vulnerabilities. The tit for tat nature of sanctions risks making multilateralism decline and further undermining the effectiveness of the global governance regime. Shifts in rising economic competition highlight the constraints on collective action. It remains critical as to whether the international economic and legal system can survive the current fractured geopolitics, and whether the new thinking on global governance could be viable for a non-zero-sum game.

Quantum-safe global encryption policy

Abstract Every day, individuals use the Internet to communicate, gather information, and engage in commercial transactions. Encryption renders such activities secure and possible in the first place. While interest in encryption policy has fluctuated among policymakers for the past three decades, this paper argues for the need to promote strong encryption at a global level. The paper sheds light on the risks posed by quantum computing to national security, wherein breached encryption could compromise classified information, military intelligence, sensitive devices, and critical infrastructures. The argument for a worldwide encryption policy is further substantiated by the looming spectre of profound global power asymmetries. As the evolution of quantum technology remains concentrated within a select cohort of nations, those in possession of functional quantum computers could gain unprecedented advantages and exploit such technological supremacy. To buttress this assertion, this paper employs the logic of the ‘least trusted country problem’ to underscore the fragility of global security in the face of such imbalances. In response, this paper introduces a three-fold strategy designed to pave the path towards a quantum-secure future. The strategy encompasses the pivotal elements of post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, and quantum random number generators. While acknowledging the challenges inherent in implementing these measures, including the projected decade-long timeline for establishing standardized solutions, the paper underscores the urgency of confronting the imminent quantum computing menace in a proactive manner. By adhering to these strategic imperatives, the global community stands poised to reinforce encryption practices against the potent capabilities that quantum computing wields. In so doing, the security and integrity of information exchange can be preserved in an ever more interconnected world.

The US-China Rivalry in the Middle East: Confrontation or Competitive Coexistence

A new era of great power rivalry has returned to the center of the global stage. The Middle East has emerged as one of the key arenas where this rivalry is being played out, and analyzing it through the lens of power transition theory provides valuable insights into the dynamics at play. This study focuses on the great power rivalry between the United States and China in the Middle East through the lens of power transition theory. It examines whether this great power rivalry in the region will allow them to pursue competitive coexistence or if they can expect increasing levels of confrontation and mutual deterrence. The study maintains that the US-China rivalry in the Middle East is multidimensional and spans primarily three dimensions: geo-economic (the Belt and Road Initiative framework), geopolitical (partnership diplomacy), and the race for technological supremacy (the Digital Silk Road). While conflict is not inevitable, it is essential to recognize the potential for confrontation and build a coordinated mechanism to manage and mitigate these tensions.

Analysis of Innovative Strategies of English Literature Teaching in Colleges and Universities under the Guidance of Ecological Literature Criticism

Abstract This paper analyzes the theory of ecological literary criticism from the perspectives of anthropocentrism, environmentalism, ecologism, materialistic developmentalism, and technological supremacy and points out the prospects for the application of the theory of ecological literary criticism in the teaching of English literature in colleges and universities. Based on the characteristics and contents of English literature teaching in colleges and universities, a model of English literature teaching that incorporates ecological literary criticism is proposed. Taking the English majors of Normal University as the research object, using SPSS software and Coh-Metrix 3.0 as the analyzing tool, we set up the control group and the experimental group. We conducted an instance analysis of the English literature teaching mode that incorporates the theory of ecological literary criticism. The results show that the grouping presents a 0.05 level of significance (t=2.265, p=0.032) for the posttest of the application essay achievement, as well as the specific comparison of the differences can be seen, the mean value of the experimental group (11.935), which will be significantly higher than the control group’s mean value (10.915). It means that compared with the traditional English writing teaching mode, the English literature teaching mode based on the ecological literary criticism theory is more helpful in promoting the improvement of the English literature writing level of the students in the experimental group.

US-EU trade and economic relationship in the age of global rivalry

The erosion of the U.S.-centric global order, heightened confrontation with Russia, and escalating rivalry with China are propelling the United States and the EU towards more intensive cooperation in economic and technological sectors. Coordinating sanctions and other punitive measures against 'revisionist powers' has become a key area of interaction between Washington and Brussels. Remarkably, the US-EU trade and economic relationship has advanced during the Biden presidency, contrasting sharply with the tariff and trade wars of the Trump era. Following a brief decline during the pandemic, US-EU bilateral trade has resumed growing at a rapid pace. Efforts by Washington and Brussels to address challenges posed by emerging technologies coincide with their individual pursuits of unilateral advantages in the race for technological supremacy and a transition to a green economy. While the transatlantic partners are striving for cooperation, this does not preclude potential clashes in their trade and economic interests, especially where there are foundational reasons for intense competition.

Securitization, frame alignment, and the legitimation of US chip export controls on China

This article examines how the Biden administration sought to legitimate the wide-ranging chip export controls on China (introduced on 7 October 2022) and to convince allies to adopt similar measures. Grounded in a qualitative analysis of US official documents, this study not only draws out the overarching rationale advanced by US officials: China’s unregulated access to advanced chips constitutes a major threat to the US and allied security. More importantly, leveraging insights from frame alignment, it uncovers the underlying patterns and dynamics of the legitimation-cum-securitization process. Substantively, US officials insisted on viewing US technological leadership and the escalation of export controls through the security lens, associated China’s (mis)use of advanced chips with the erosion of US technological supremacy, military security and national security at large, and framed blocking China’s access to advanced chips as critical for the security of the US and allies. This analysis offers broad insights into the contestation and legitimation of an increasingly common yet potentially pernicious phenomenon in US-China relations: enacting techno-economic sanctions in the name of national security.

Tin Oxide Nanoparticles: A Review

Abstract: The aim of this review article is an overview of the tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles, and the literature addresses the existing research related to the various modifications and characterization of SnO2 nanoparticles with their physicochemical investigations. Among various metal-oxide nanoparticles, SnO2 nanoparticles are considered one of the potential candidates for electronic and electrical device fabrication, sensors, display devices, gas sensing, photovoltaic devices, LIBs (Lithium-ion batteries), photocatalysis and optoelectronic devices, supercapacitors, SnO2 nanowires would provide electrolyte channels for effective transport, catalyst, and anode materials. Apart from their technological supremacy, SnO2 nanoparticles have demonstrated their compatibility with human cervical cancer cells and have successfully achieved hyperthermia temperature when subjected to an alternating current magnetic field. Doping with some of the potential rare-earth dopants via various synthesis methods such as Chemical co-precipitation, sol-gel, polymeric precursor method, and nebulizer spray pyrolysis method is the major highlight of this review article. As per the requirement of the system, SnO2 nanoparticles can be tuned by size, shape, and functionality.

The Impact of Scientific Research Level on Financing for High-tech Enterprises in China: Machine Learning Analysis Based on the STAR Market

Amid the prevailing trend of technological supremacy, the scientific research level plays a pivotal role in elevating economic growth and national comprehensive strength. As crucial forces propelling industrial advancement and economic expansion, high-tech companies share an intricate relationship between scientific research level and enterprise strengths. This study delves into the influence of research level on the financing capacity of enterprises in the STAR market. It employs Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression and Gradient Boosting Regression Trees (GBRT) techniques to analyze data between 2019 and 2022. The findings underscore that patent research capabilities and research investment intensity are key factors impacting financing capacity. Specifically, patent quantity exhibits a negative correlation with Asset-liability ratio (ALR), while research investment intensity shows a positive correlation. On the other hand, patent quantity correlates positively with commercial credit financing (CCF) capacity, whereas the proportion of research personnel correlates negatively. The GBRT analysis further validates the significant impact which patent quantity and research investment have on financing capacity. This suggests that high-tech companies should focus on enhancing research efficiency and the proportion of research personnel, while also carefully considering the degree of emphasis on innovation. These measures can balance CCF and debt ratio considerations. The study provides essential decision-making insights for managers and investors of technology-driven firms, emphasizing the significance of technological innovation in business development. Also, it offers guidance for optimizing corporate development and personnel structures in the technology and innovation sectors.

The Quest for Supremacy and Sagacity in AI

Artificial Intelligence has now become critical to the geopolitical contest for technological supremacy. Paul Scharre's latest book, "Four Battlegrounds," uncovers key aspects of this technology, and the literal four battlegrounds this contest is being fought on – data, talent, compute, and institutions. This book review assesses a wide range of issues the book covers through a unique story-telling writing style, and highlights implications for how we understand AI and its uses. The book isn't entirely jargon-free, but this review argues that Scharre does a great job at bringing down the walls of incomprehensibility with regards to this key technology.

Who drives the international standardisation of telecommunication and digitalisation? Introducing a new data set

AbstractReinforced by the technological decoupling and the related battle for technological supremacy between the United States and China, telecommunication technology has become increasingly politicised. As the functioning of global telecommunication technology relies on interoperability and compatibility, government and private actors have strong incentives to shape the underlying standards in their economic and political interests. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and its Members play a central role in setting these standards for future telecommunication technology. Despite the ITU's importance in this field, relatively little is known about the organisation's work on standardisation and the actors behind it. This Policy Insight introduces a new data set on the involvement of over 800 government and private actors and their almost 50,000 contributions to ITU standardisation processes between 2000 and 2022. A descriptive analysis of the data set illustrates that particularly Chinese actors—Huawei, ZTE, China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom—have been actively driving the ITU's standardisation processes in the areas of transport, access and home but also future networks and cloud. The data set introduced here is envisaged as a source which allows researchers to study the reasons and implications for certain actors' involvement in the international standardisation of telecommunication and digitalisation.

Climate agenda of the leading US oil companies

The authors investigate characteristics of the fourth energy transition from fossil fuel to renewables that is currently underway on the global scale and its impact on the oil and gas sector. They study evolution of the climate agenda of oil companies and its main drivers. The article explores specifics of the American model of oil majors’ decarbonization and analyzes key differences between the American and European models. The authors assess the main reasons for the high climate responsibility of the European oil companies. They study the key drivers of climate policy of the US majors, e.g. greening of financial institutions and investors, consumers’ preferences, etc. A special focus is made on the evolution of the US government climate strategy. Recently, the US majors have been demonstrating greater climate awareness and began to announce their net zero commitments. The authors study specific decarbonization measures taken by the main US oil companies (ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, and Occidental Petroleum), such as R&D in the sphere of biofuels, carbon capture, utilization and storage, control of methane leakages, production of hydrogen, etc. The article emphasizes that the US oil companies, in contrast to their European counterparts, are reluctant to diversify their asset portfolio by expanding the share of renewables. Their reluctance might stem from the fact that oil companies that possess considerable proved reserves of hydrocarbons and that made significant investments in upstream are not eager to focus on renewables. Currently, the American majors continue to bet on the long-term future of oil and gas, remain loyal to their core oil and gas business and pursue climate agenda mainly by enhancing their energy efficiency through the use of their competitive advantages, primarily technological supremacy. The authors believe that under Joe Biden’s administration the climate agenda of the leading US oil companies will be strengthened further.

Can China Challenge the Technological Supremacy of the United States: Current Standpoint and Perspectives

Can China Challenge the Technological Supremacy of the United States: Current Standpoint and Perspectives

한국의 기후기술산업 인력수요 전망과 정책적 시사점

Amidst the international community"s competition for technological supremacy regarding carbon neutrality and the climate crisis, Korea needs to accumulate technological capabilities and gain a competitive advantage by fostering professionals in the field of climate technology. In particular, Korea urgently needs a mid- to long-term labor force development plan and a labor force demand forecast to support it. Therefore, this study conducted a mid- to long-term labor force demand forecast for each climate technology and industrial sector by linking climate technology industrial statistics and standard industrial classification statistics. Forecast results for the industrial sector indicate high demand for labor force in R&D, electrical and electronics, and chemical industries. Forecast results for the climate technology sector suggest that the labor force demand in energy production and efficiency sectors such as energy demand and storage, renewable energy, and power IT is high. Other results indicate that the growth rate for labor force demand in the climate technology adaptation field is relatively high, and that multi-disciplinary sectors have the highest labor force demand. Therefore, it is imperative to design and implement climate technology labor force development policies for climate technology and related industries with high demand for mid- to long-term labor force, and to increase cooperation among Korean ministries to foster interdisciplinary professionals in climate technology fields.

Export Controls and Securitization of Economic Policy: Comparative Analysis of the Practice of the United States, the European Union, China, and Russia

National security rhetoric has gained prominence due to increasingly pervasive digitalization, the emergence of cutting-edge technologies, and developments in artificial intelligence and machine learning. Increased reliance on these areas fuels industrial development but also renders national economies vulnerable to foreign interference. Ultimately, the current wave of technological development with its potential threats intensifies competition between states and redefines their economic and military advantages over potential global rivals. Against this background, certain states have expanded the scope of their export control regimes by extending the lists of controlled items and/or imposing ‘catch-all’ control. Used in conjunction with economic sanctions, weaponized tariffs, and extensive investment screening mechanisms aimed to protect national security interests, such measures go beyond conventional non-proliferation purposes to address economic security, technological supremacy, and human rights concerns for which those states are willing to sacrifice the economic efficiency that accompanies trade liberalization. Using the United States, the European Union, China, and Russia as case studies, this article discusses to which extent different export control objectives of these international actors have been securitized. Securitization of certain states’ interests is inevitable, even if not desirable. Yet, this article argues that international law can be managed to control and limit the level of securitization of domestic policies in order to strengthen the international legal system as a whole. export controls, national security, economic security, securitization, emerging technologies, technological supremacy

Ready Player One and the Reassertion of US Economic and Technological Supremacy

This essay offers a geopolitical reading of Ernest Cline's Ready Player One (2011), focusing on the novel's often-overlooked Japanese characters. While the novel is set in 2045, its narrative is an allegory for present-day global economic tensions between a recession-era US and a rising Asia. By reducing the novel's Japanese characters to premodern and postmodern Japanese tropes (the samurai and the hikikomori [shut-in]), Cline portrays Japan as an economic and technological threat that has been contained, and thus models a future in which American individualism wins out over Asian collectivism.

The Work of Stott & Sons for the Linotype Company at Altrincham 1: The Works

ABSTRACT The architects Stott & Sons of Manchester are chiefly known for their work in designing cotton mills, but in 1896–9 they were responsible for the works and adjoining housing estate of the Linotype Company at Broadheath near Altrincham, Cheshire. This early example of an electrically powered factory, located on an early example of an industrial park, was built for the manufacture of the Linotype hot-metal typesetting machines that had been developed in America. It used mainly American machinery and can be seen as illustrating the loss of British technological supremacy. The main part of the works was of a single storey, built on the weaving shed principle, and fronted by an elaborate office building. Electrical power was generated on site in a large power house containing reciprocating steam engines driving DC generators. The works has now been largely demolished, although the office building has been converted for residential use and a few other features have been retained in the modern redevelopment.