@article{055d72a1743348baa55f15717f63409a,
title = "Technological innovations and industry clustering in the bicycle industry in Taiwan",
abstract = "This study explores technological innovations and industry clustering in the bicycle industry in Taiwan. It shows that clustering in the bicycle industry not only decreases transaction costs among the firms in the cluster but also increases cooperation and efficiency between the bicycle manufacturers and their partners as a result of standardization and modularization of bicycle components. Following a patent analysis, the study finds that two systems-the wheel system and the bicycle frame system-are the strengths of Taiwanese bicycle and component manufacturers; conversely, the transmission (i.e., gears) and brake systems are their weaknesses. Moreover, industry clustering increases the efficiency of information exchange such that the spillover effect of technological innovation is significant.",
keywords = "Bicycle industry, Clustering, Patent analysis, Taiwan, Technological innovation",
author = "Chen, {Yu Shan} and {James Lin}, {Ming Ji} and Chang, {Ching Hsun} and Liu, {Fang Mei}",
note = "Funding Information: Formal communication channels within the industrial clusters of Taiwan's bicycle industry include announcing a firm's future products, disclosing patent rights, and participating in worldwide bicycle exhibitions, such as the International Bike Exhibition in Germany, Italian Bicycle and Motorcycle Exhibition, and the International Bicycle Exhibition in the U.S. Starting in 1996, the International Bicycle Design Competition of Taiwan has been held annually by the Industrial Development Bureau, Ministry of Economic Affairs of Taiwan, and supported by the Taiwan Bicycle Industry R&D Center. The purposes of this competition are to allow Taiwanese bicycle manufacturers to compete with one another and to attract international bicycle manufacturers to participate in this competition. Another purpose is to provide opportunities for Taiwanese bicycle manufacturers to learn the technologies of other bicycle manufacturers and to evaluate and compare their R&D capabilities. Funding Information: Table 5 shows major R&D events that involved major semi-official R&D institutions. Clearly, semi-official R&D institutions played an important role during the development of the Taiwanese bicycle industry, because Taiwanese SMEs lacked resources. Therefore, the funding support from semi-official R&D institutions was vital to ongoing R&D in the bicycle industry. Nevertheless, not all bicycle manufacturers sought the support of governmental funds because sometimes that support did not meet their needs. ",
year = "2009",
month = aug,
doi = "10.1016/j.techsoc.2009.06.001",
language = "English",
volume = "31",
pages = "207--217",
journal = "Technology in Society",
issn = "0160-791X",
publisher = "Elsevier Limited",
number = "3",
}