Key factors in the technological catch‐up of China's traditional industry : Changhong case exploration

Purpose – The color TV industry in China has become a mature industry. Its development demonstrates and provides reference implications for how developing industries within a country can achieve a technological leap. This paper aims to address this issue. Design/methodology/approach – An exploratory case study approach is taken to find the key factors in the technological catch‐up of China's traditional industry. Findings – In the study it is found that China's color TV industry, as a mature traditional industry, has four‐dimensional key factors affecting the catch‐up of technology in the flat‐panel stage: market; merger and acquisition; international cooperation innovation for patent; and the roles of internal reform. “Market” is the window of opportunity and challenge; “merger and acquisition” is the key factor for making the patent convert from external mode to internal mode by deviant‐track. The “international cooperation innovation for patent” is also a key factor to ensure achievement of technology catch‐up and sustainable technological innovation. The role of internal reform promoter is the key factor in the technological catch‐up process in which taking entrepreneur as the core. Originality/value – The article describes Changhong's flat‐panel TV technology catch‐up mode, analyzes four‐dimensional key factors affecting the technology catch‐up of China's color TV industry; the Chinese color TV industry as mature industry; and discusses which developments have demonstrated how to achieve a technological leap in developing industries.