State actors’ mobilisation of resources for innovation: a case study of a Chinese vaccine
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore how state actors mobilise resources in business networks to facilitate innovation.
Design/methodology/approach
A single case study method is used. The case from the Chinese biotechnology sector illustrates how state actors mobilise resources in a network context in order to develop, produce and use a vaccine.
Findings
The case findings demonstrate that state actors indirectly, as well as actively, are involved in the whole innovation process by mobilising resources necessary for the development, production and use of the vaccine. State actors influence other actors, both political and business, and provide resources in order to facilitate innovation.
Practical implications
The paper illustrates that state actors, in the specific case, play an important and active role throughout the whole innovation process. This opens up the issue of the possible extended role of state actors in innovation.
Originality/value
Over the past decades, Chinese state actors have played an active role in the business landscape. This paper explores state actors’ influence on the innovation process on the network level.
Keywords
Citation
Shih, T. and Linné, Å. (2016), "State actors’ mobilisation of resources for innovation: a case study of a Chinese vaccine", IMP Journal, Vol. 10 No. 2, pp. 296-316. https://doi.org/10.1108/IMP-08-2015-0044
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited