Focusing on China's socioeconomic and political backdrop, this chapter investigates the value of innovation and the transfer of technology in public sector management. It examines China's methods of staying ahead in a dynamic global market, including how the country has been able to acquire, implement, and profit from cutting-edge technologies. The chapter examines how China's organizational culture affects the country's efforts to encourage the use of new technologies. The chapter also emphasizes the significance of China's local and foreign strategic partnerships for the transfer of technology. The 'Quadruple Helix' paradigm is used to describe the mutually beneficial ties between government agencies, commercial businesses, and educational institutions that have led to significant technical advances in China. This chapter contributes to the discussion on innovation and technology transfer in public management by providing a model for policy makers, and scholars around the world who are interested in improving their public management systems through these means.
Top1. Introduction
The term “innovation” is used to describe the process of developing and introducing something new that ultimately leads to a substantial improvement or change (Siguaw, Simpson, & Enz, 2006). In order to get better results, it is common to reevaluate or adjust preexisting frameworks. Individual, group, corporate, and societal levels can all be sites of innovation, as can different fields such as technology, services, and processes. Newness, originality, efficiency, and the ability to dramatically affect established practices are hallmarks of innovation. When an invention is put into practice, it usually improves some aspect of business operation, such as productivity or competitiveness (Vuong & Napier, 2014).
Conversely, technology transfer is the process of moving ideas, tools, and techniques from one organization to another, or from the realm of research (often conducted in universities) to the realm of commercialization (typically conducted by businesses). The goal is to put the new innovation to use in ways that boost productivity, quality, or both (Wright, Birley, & Mosey, 2004). Technology transfer is a multi-faceted process that can occur through licensing, spin-offs, research collaborations, or even simple employee swaps. Understanding the potential applications of the technology, as well as a legal framework to protect intellectual property, are necessary for a smooth transition of technology.
Innovation and technology transfer are often intertwined when considering public sector management. Government agencies can boost service quality and decrease waste through innovation. Meanwhile, technology transfer enables these organizations to acquire cutting-edge technologies created elsewhere, so fostering even more innovation. Improvements in public sector productivity, service delivery, and societal value are possible through careful management of technological innovation and transfer (Maskus & Reichman, 2004).
Administration in the public sector benefits greatly from new ideas and the spread of technological advancements. Improved public service efficiency, efficacy, and flexibility are all dependent on these factors.
To better deliver public services, governments frequently adopt and implement new ideas, regulations, and practices. Product innovations include offering new public services or enhancing current ones to better satisfy the demands of citizens, while process innovations include introducing new operational procedures to increase efficiency (Bason, 2018). Public service delivery models can be transformed through the deployment of innovative technology, such as the widespread adoption of digital platforms. Therefore, innovation should be used to enhance and modify existing public services to fulfill the ever-changing requirements of the public.
Instead, public sector entities engage in technology transfer when they absorb and utilize innovations developed by private entities or in a different region. The government's ability to take advantage of cutting-edge innovations in service delivery is facilitated via technology transfer. In order to better serve the public, governments are increasingly turning to cutting-edge analytical tools and digital technology to aid in policymaking.
In public administration, new ideas and the spread of useful technologies go hand in hand. The demand for cutting-edge technology is propelled by innovation, and its availability for use in the public sector is ensured through technology transfer. Collectively, they allow government to meet the evolving requirements of its citizens, enhance the quality of its services, and preserve its worth to the public (Ferraris, Santoro, & Pellicelli, 2020).
China's distinctive political and economic environment is characterized by a convergence of historical continuity, strategic leadership, and rapid progress. The market system in the country is heavily impacted by its history of central planning. The Chinese government still has a lot of sway over the economy even though it has become more market-oriented since the economic reforms of 1978 (Steinfeld, 2000). By fusing the benefits of central planning with those of a market economy, China has been able to propel its economy forward at an unprecedented rate (Coase & Wang, 2016).