Template-type: ReDIF-Paper 1.0
Author-Name: Akçomak, Ibrahim Semih
Author-Email: akcomak@metu.edu.tr.
Author-Workplace-Name: TEKPOL, Middle East Technical University
Author-Name: Bürken, Serkan
Author-Email: burken@metu.edu.tr.
Author-Workplace-Name: TEKPOL, Middle East Technical University
Title: The middle-technology trap:  The case of the automotive industry in Turkey
Abstract: This paper argues that Turkey has fallen into a middle-technology trap 
	 on the borders of a weak innovation system (IS) and strong global value 
	 chains (GVCs). Detailed information from a primary R&D and innovation 
	 funding agency is used to show that the technological characteristics of 
	 the funded automotive R&D and innovation projects remained reasonably 
	 stable between 1995 and 2011. This result is cross-validated with two 
	 qualitative designs on beneficiary firms and automotive industry 
	 experts. The qualitative designs aided in identifying three mechanisms 
	 that explain how the Turkish automotive industry has fallen into a 
	 middle-technology trap. Analysis at the project, firm, and expert levels 
	 indicate that despite extensive upgrading and learning in manufacturing, 
	 the automotive industry has failed to build innovation capabilities. 
	 Turkey's delegated role in the automotive GVC, the joint venture (JV) 
	 structure and the lack of complementarities collectively work in 
	 creating a trap that impedes further technological development.
Classification-JEL: O12, O25, O33, L62
Keywords: Middle-technology trap, automotive industry, technology, innovation,
	 Turkey
Series: UNU-MERIT Working Papers
Creation-Date: 20190307
Number: 2019-006
File-URL: https://unu-merit.nl/publications/wppdf/2019/wp2019-006.pdf
File-Format: application/pdf
File-Size: 275 Kb
Handle: RePEc:unm:unumer:2019006