Bridging the Gap

This book is a comprehensive exploration of the role and functions played by innovation intermediaries in China’s rapidly evolving innovation and technological context. A series of in-depth case studies and analyses examine how different types of intermediaries — from government agencies to academic institutions and private enterprises — contribute to China’s innovation framework. As China transitions to an innovation-driven economy, such intermediaries act as bridges between various stakeholders, including governments, universities, research centers, firms, and citizens. Within the innovation ecosystem, they are in charge of facilitating knowledge transfer, collaboration, and technological advancement across diverse sectors and countries, from a global perspective. By investigating specific examples such as the China Society of Technical Economics, Proof of Concept Centers, and tech giants like Baidu, this book explores the nature of innovation brokerage in the Chinese context. It suggests future lines of research as well as relevant policy and managerial implications. Throughout its chapters, the volume focuses on several key themes crucial to understanding China’s innovation dynamics.