On the Relationship Between Manufacturing and Innovation: Why Not All Technologies are Created Equal
Public Lecture
10/12/2012, 11:30am-01:00pm
Location: UC San Diego, IR/PS Robinson Building Complex, Gardner Room
Open to: Public
Event email: pbibb@ucsd.edu
Speaker: Erica Fuchs, Associate Professor, Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University
This seminar will be based off of Erica Fuchs' working paper, entitled "On the Relationship Between Manufacturing and Innovation: Why Not All Technologies are Created Equal," where she will discuss the relationship between manufacturing location and innovation trajectories, and why theory should not expect the same relationship for all technologies and industries. She will focus on emerging technologies in two polar opposite industries - automobiles and photonic semiconductors (the latter for telecom, computing, and military applications).
In both cases, her results will show that when U.S. firms shift production from the U.S. to countries like China, the most advanced technologies that were developed in the U.S. are no longer profitable. Production characteristics are different abroad, and earlier technologies can be more cost-effective in countries like China. While these economics lead firms to abandon producing the most advanced technologies, in only one situation is there a barrier to pursuing innovation in the most advanced technologies back the U.S.
She will conclude by introducing a classification system to explain how the relationship between manufacturing and innovation may differ by technology. Within this framework, particularly important may be policies to support manufacturing, technology development, and commercialization activities by early-stage, high technology, small and medium sized enterprises with immature processes.
Erica R.H. Fuchs is an Associate Professor in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research focuses on the role of government in technology development and the effect of location on the competitiveness of new technologies. Dr. Fuchs is one of 40-50 individuals globally chosen in 2012 to be a InterAcademies Panel Young Scientist.
Background readings:
Gains from Other's Losses: Technology Trajectories and the Global Division of Firms.
(recommended for those who are familiar with Professor Fuchs' past work)
Design for Location?: The Impact of Manufacturing Off-Shore on Technology Competitiveness in the Optoelectronics Industry.
(recommended for those who have not read Professor Fuchs' paper)
