Country-level technological disparities, market feedback, and scientists' choice of technologies

Abstract

This study investigates whether country-level technological disparities influence individual scientists' choice of research agenda and, if so, how the effect of country-level technological disparities on individuals' research activities differs before and after technology commercialization. To address these research questions, we use research proceedings published from the International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS) from 1990 to 2009. We find that a country's technological capabilities tend to prevent its scientists from studying electric vehicles (defined as a disruptive technology) but encourage them to study hybrid vehicles (defined as a sustaining technology) before electric and hybrid vehicles are launched in the automobile market. We also find that a country's technological capabilities do not subsequently help its scientists shift their research activities to the technologies that have received positive initial feedback from automobile markets.