• Korea Trade Review
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.247-267
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• 2022

Since the Korea-Vietnam FTA was signed in 2015, trade between the two countries has increased rapidly, accounting for 6.8% of Vietnam's exports and 17.9% of its imports in 2020. The two countries show differences in import and export items. Vietnam has a high export ratio of agri-food products or products with the low-middle level of technology, while Korea has a high export ratio of products with the upper-middle level. The purpose of this study is to present implications by analyzing changes in trade competitiveness between Vietnam and Korea by technology level (2002-2020). For this purpose, statistics from UN Comtrade were used, and methodologies such as market share, Export Market Share (EMS), Trade Specialization Index (TSI), Intra-Industrial Trade Index (IIT), Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA), and BCG Matrix were used. The results of the study are as follows. First, when looking at Vietnam's trade structure with South Korea by technology level, it was analyzed that the trade deficit widened as it showed a competitive disadvantage in high-tech, ICT, middle- and low-level technology items, excluding low-end technology items. Second, in terms of market share, the market share of Vietnamese products in the Korean market is continuously increasing, while the Korean market share in Vietnam is gradually decreasing from 2017. Third, Vietnam's export competitiveness to Korea by technology level shows that low-level technologies are competitive, but they are inferior in competitiveness in all other technology level, and especially in areas with high technology level, the level of inferiority is high. In conclusion, the trade relationship between Vietnam and Korea has maintained a mutually complementary rather than competitive relationship, which is expected to continue in the future.

• New & Renewable Energy
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.72-84
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• 2022

As the threat of climate change escalates, 'net-zero' has become a priority for the international community, and the use of new and renewable energy sources is expected to play a significant role in reaching international carbon neutrality. Here, we evaluate technological competitiveness in terms of implementation and technology by analyzing scientific literature and patents in the new and renewable energy fields of five major countries. For the past 10 years (2009-2019), the most active areas of new and renewable energy research and development have been solar power, wind power, waste, and fuel cells. China is the forerunner in implementation, whereas the United States has the most advanced technology. Portfolio analysis revealed that Korea's fuel cell, the United States' bioenergy, China's waste, Japan's solar and fuel cell, and the European Union's wind power have shown to be in Star Field respectively. Technological competitiveness analysis found that Korea is lagging behind other countries in the new and renewable energy sector, and needs to set a new direction for future carbon-neutral research and development, investment, and policy.

• Korean small business review
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.65-87
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• 2010

With the advent of knowledge-based society, the revitalization of technological innovation type SMEs, termed "inno-biz" hereafter, has been globally recognized as a government policymakers' primary concern in strengthening national competitiveness, and much effort is being put into establishing polices of boosting the start-ups and innovation capability of SMEs. Especially, in that the inno-biz enables national economy to get vitalized by widening world markets with its superior technology, and thus, taking the initiative of extremely competitive world markets, its growth and development has greater significance. In the case of Korea, the government has been maintaining the policies since the late 1990s of stimulating the growth of SMEs as well as building various infrastructures to foster the start-ups of the SMEs such as venture businesses with high technology. In addition, since the enactment of "Innovation Promotion Law for SMEs" in 2001, the government has been accelerating the policies of prioritizing the growth and development of inno-biz. So, for the sound growth and development of Korean inno-biz, this paper intends to offer effective management strategies for SMEs and suggest proper policies for the government, by researching into the effect of technological innovation capability and technology commercialization capability as the primary business resources on business performance in Korean SMEs in the light of market information orientation. The research is carried out on Korean companies characterized as inno-biz. On the basis of OSLO manual and prior studies, the research categorizes their status. R&D capability, technology accumulation capability and technological innovation system are categorized into technological innovation capability; product development capability, manufacturing capability and marketing capability into technology commercialization capability; and increase in product competitiveness and merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. Then the effect of each component on business performance is substantially analyzed. In addition, the mediation effect of technological innovation and technology commercialization capability on business performance is observed by the use of the market information orientation as a parameter. The following hypotheses are proposed. H1 : Technology innovation capability will positively influence business performance. H1-1 : R&D capability will positively influence product competitiveness. H1-2 : R&D capability will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H1-3 : Technology accumulation capability will positively influence product competitiveness. H1-4 : Technology accumulation capability will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H1-5 : Technological innovation system will positively influence product competitiveness. H1-6 : Technological innovation system will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H2 : Technology commercializing capability will positively influence business performance. H2-1 : Product development capability will positively influence product competitiveness. H2-2 : Product development capability will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H2-3 : Manufacturing capability will positively influence product competitiveness. H2-4 : Manufacturing capability will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H2-5 : Marketing capability will positively influence product competitiveness. H2-6 : Marketing capability will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H3 : Technology innovation capability will positively influence market information orientation. H3-1 : R&D capability will positively influence information generation. H3-2 : R&D capability will positively influence information diffusion. H3-3 : R&D capability will positively influence information response. H3-4 : Technology accumulation capability will positively influence information generation. H3-5 : Technology accumulation capability will positively influence information diffusion. H3-6 : Technology accumulation capability will positively influence information response. H3-7 : Technological innovation system will positively influence information generation. H3-8 : Technological innovation system will positively influence information diffusion. H3-9 : Technological innovation system will positively influence information response. H4 : Technology commercialization capability will positively influence market information orientation. H4-1 : Product development capability will positively influence information generation. H4-2 : Product development capability will positively influence information diffusion. H4-3 : Product development capability will positively influence information response. H4-4 : Manufacturing capability will positively influence information generation. H4-5 : Manufacturing capability will positively influence information diffusion. H4-6 : Manufacturing capability will positively influence information response. H4-7 : Marketing capability will positively influence information generation. H4-8 : Marketing capability will positively influence information diffusion. H4-9 : Marketing capability will positively influence information response. H5 : Market information orientation will positively influence business performance. H5-1 : Information generation will positively influence product competitiveness. H5-2 : Information generation will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H5-3 : Information diffusion will positively influence product competitiveness. H5-4 : Information diffusion will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H5-5 : Information response will positively influence product competitiveness. H5-6 : Information response will positively influence merits for new technology and/or product development into business performance. H6 : Market information orientation will mediate the relationship between technology innovation capability and business performance. H7 : Market information orientation will mediate the relationship between technology commercializing capability and business performance. The followings are the research results : First, as for the effect of technological innovation on business performance, the technology accumulation capability and technological innovating system have a positive effect on increase in product competitiveness and merits for new technology and/or product development, while R&D capability has little effect on business performance. Second, as for the effect of technology commercialization capability on business performance, the effect of manufacturing capability is relatively greater than that of merits for new technology and/or product development. Third, the mediation effect of market information orientation is identified to exist partially in information generation, information diffusion and information response. Judging from these results, the following analysis can be made : On Increase in product competitiveness, directly related to successful technology commercialization of technology, management capability including technological innovation system, manufacturing capability and marketing capability has a relatively strong effect. On merits for new technology and/or product development, on the other hand, capability in technological aspect including R&D capability, technology accumulation capability and product development capability has relatively strong effect. Besides, in the cast of market information orientation, the level of information diffusion within an organization plays and important role in new technology and/or product development. Also, for commercial success like increase in product competitiveness, the level of information response is primarily required. Accordingly, the following policies are suggested : First, as the effect of technological innovation capability and technology commercialization capability on business performance differs among SMEs; in order for SMEs to secure competitiveness, the government has to establish microscopic policies for SMEs which meet their needs and characteristics. Especially, the SMEs lacking in capital and labor are required to map out management strategies of focusing their resources primarily on their strengths. And the government needs to set up policies for SMEs, not from its macro-scaled standpoint, but from the selective and concentrative one that meets the needs and characteristics of respective SMEs. Second, systematic infrastructures are urgently required which lead technological success to commercial success. Namely, as technological merits at respective SME levels do not always guarantee commercial success, the government should make and effort to build systematic infrastructures including encouragement of M&A or technology trade, systematic support for protecting intellectual property, furtherance of business incubating and industrial clusters for strengthening academic-industrial network, and revitalization of technology financing, in order to make successful commercialization from technological success. Finally, the effort to innovate technology, R&D, for example, is essential to future national competitiveness, but its result is often prolonged. So the government needs continuous concern and funding for basic science, in order to maximize technological innovation capability. Indeed the government needs to examine continuously whether technological innovation capability or technological success leads satisfactorily to commercial success in market economic system. It is because, when the transition fails, it should be left to the government.

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.8 no.12
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• pp.345-352
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• 2021

Guided by a resource-based theory, this study is the first one that takes a quantitative approach to identify determinants of competitiveness of women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam. The study employs time series data of Vietnamese SMEs extracted from the Vietnam Small and Medium Enterprises Survey conducted biennially from 2005 to 2015 in ten Vietnamese provinces. Firm competitiveness hereby is indicated by revenue, market share, profitability, and export volume. The research reveals a number of determining factors, of all, research and development, labor skills, business environment, technology investment are the most important factors, followed by capital and headcount. It is indicated that the determining factors have different influences on competitiveness obtained by different measurements. Therefore, it is based on specific targets and situations to make wise business decisions. The authors also make comparisons among groups of women-owned enterprises divided by their firm age, location, ownership, export, age, and educational background of business owners. The findings serve as critical empirical evidence and provide policy recommendations for improving the competitiveness of women-owned SMEs in Vietnam. The recommendations range from technology support, education and professional support for female entrepreneurs, access to capital and human resources to business environment improvement.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.65-89
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• 2012

Recognizing the significance of inter-firm cooperation for firm's sustainable competitive advantage in today's business environment, this study investigates the effects of inter-firm cooperation and knowledge sharing on firm competitiveness based on 327 Korean small and medium sized enterprises. We also examines a mediating effects of knowledge sharing on the relationship between inter-firm cooperation and firm competitiveness and moderating effects of environmental factors on this relationship. The environmental factors are conceptualized by intensity of market competition and technological change. The main findings of the study are as follows: First, the paper found that inter-firm cooperation was positively associated with firm competitiveness while there was also a positive relationship between knowledge sharing and firm competitiveness. Second, it also shows that knowledge sharing partially mediated the relationship of inter-firm cooperation and firm competitiveness. Third, we also found that technological change had negative moderating effects on the relationship between inter-firm cooperation and firm competitiveness. This study suggests that understanding of inter-firm cooperation with consideration of environmental characteristics are required for better firm competitiveness.

• The Journal of Industrial Distribution & Business
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.31-43
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• 2018

Purpose - With the technology of the 4th industrial revolution, business models of agricultural sector are changing rapidly toward convergence and high value-added business models due to the 6th industrialization of agricultural. Our goals is to examine the 6th industrialization of agriculture, and then to apply the technology of the 4th industrial revolution to the 6th industrialization of agriculture, suggesting the possibility of future agriculture, and then linking the export competitiveness of agricultural products. Research design, data, and methodology - As the methodology, case studies and empirical analyzes were conducted as well as literature studies. The case analyses included tomatoes, pig breeding farms, and an empirical analysis was conducted using the AHP analysis by experts of the 6th industrialization. In addition, using 124 survey data, this study examined and analyzed the items of the 4th industrial revolution technology for the 6th industrialization of agriculture and the strengthening of export competitiveness. Results - Results showed that the technology of the 4th Industrial Revolution helped "6th industrialization of agriculture" and "the strengthening of export competitiveness" using two successful cases. The AHP analysis was also carried out, and it was found that the improvement of the technology in the 4th industrial revolution could contribute to the future industrialization as well as the 6th industrialization of agriculture. First of all, we looked many conditions were important and urgent. Among the technologies of the 4th industrial revolution, the mobile, big data were important. Moreover, it was recognized that linkage and convergence related efforts would greatly contribute to strengthening export competitiveness of agriculture such as price and quality competitiveness. Conclusions - The 4th industrial revolution such as hyper-connectivity, hyper-intelligence and hyper-predictability contribute greatly to the 6th industrialization of agriculture, and therefore it is essential to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural sector by using the technology of the 4th industrial revolution. In particular, based on analyses of the diamond model, the "demand conditions" was the most important factor for the activation of the 6th Industrialization, and then "related and supporting fields", "factor conditions" and "business context" were followed in order. The results of this study can be useful for policy, practical and academic sectors.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information and Communication Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.663-671
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• 2017

This study analyzed the determinants influencing competitiveness of artificial intelligence industry of Korea. Analysis showed that the factors having the greatest influence on the national competitiveness of the artificial intelligence industry were, in decreasing order of importance, R&D, capital, and ICT competitiveness. Given the capital-intensive characteristic of the artificial intelligence technology, it is important to enhance the national R&D capacity in artificial intelligence technology and ICT, and to make substantial investments in the establishment of related infrastructure. Considering that the development and utilization of ICT infrastructure serves as the basis for artificial intelligence technology, the high standards of Korean consumers are expected to have a positive catalytic effect on the acquisition of national competitiveness for the artificial intelligence industry. For companies to respond in a timely manner to the rapid dissemination and high impact of artificial intelligence technology, they must prepare for such advancements by improving their competencies.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.11 no.12
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• pp.213-227
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• 2013

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of SMEs' technological competitiveness and technology marketing on commercialization performance. For this, we conducted a survey targeting 204 people who are in charge of new product or technology development in SMEs which possess corporate R&D center authorized by the government on technological competitiveness, technology marketing and commercialization performance. The paper studied the effects of technological competitiveness on technology marketing and commercialization performance, technology marketing on commercialization performance. Empirical analysis shows follow results. First, technological competitiveness which includes technology innovation capability, technology commercialization capability and R&D intensity (investment on R&D personnel) have a positive effect on technology marketing. Second, technology commercialization capability have a positive effect on commercialization sales performance & commercialization non-sales performance, R&D intensity (investment on R&D physical) have a positive effect on commercialization non-sales performance. Third, high core technology and enabling technology on technology marketing result in better commercialization performance. As a result, technology-centered SMEs need to make continuous efforts to elevate technological competitiveness factors such as technology innovation capability, technology commercialization capability and R&D intensity.

• Journal of Technology Innovation
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.48-79
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• 1997

This study aims to evaluate and identify the patterns of the technological competitiveness of the Korean industry. Such statistics as R&D expenditure and R&D manpower as input indexes, US patent registrations and export sales as output indexse were used. It was turned out that such industrial types as specialized-suppliers industries, scale-intensive industries and science-intensive industries showed relatively strong technical competitiveness. However, resource-intensive industries and labor-intensive industries which had maintained a competitive advantage in the 1970s and the 1980s appeared to be gradually losing their technological competitiveness. These results are by and large in accordance with the trends of export performance. This study conducted the canonical discriminant analysis in order to test the correctness of the patterns displayed in the technological competitiveness of the Korean industry. The result of the analysis showed that the five patterns of technical strength of the Korean industries are significantly independent each other for four respective variables which are used to distinguish industries. This implies that the ex ante industrial classification into five types was correct in terms of the ex post statistics, and that the patterns of technological competitiveness discovered in this study are also statistically correct.

• International Area Studies Review
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.285-306
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• 2011

This paper analyzed the effects the regional competitiveness index on the characteristics of the regional growth. This study divides the regions in the US based on the static and dynamic standard of income for the characteristics of the regional growth. The results of the analysis are as follows. First some regions such as Alaska, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming have higher levels of SCI and both the rate of growth and per capita income than the national average. These are considered prosperous regions based on their high level of SCI. Second, in regards to the relation between the income level and regional competitiveness index for the regional growth, the variables such as human resource, science technology, business incubation, openness, safety and environmental policy are significant. Third, infrastructure, human resource, science technology and openness are the significant variables concerning the relation between the rate of income growth and regional competitiveness index for the regional growth.