The commercialization of the transistor radio in Japan: The functioning of an innovation community

Abstract

In the 1950's, Japanese electronics firms moved from a technological level that seemed far behind their U.S. and European rivals to dominate the first commercial markets for semiconductors. The processes by which this happened have been little studied and are not well understood. Aside from the apparent mystery of how the Japanese advanced so quickly with the technology are such related issues of importance to policymakers and managers as: Did government contribute to or detract from the Japanese success? How did the major Japanese electron-tube producers, unlike their U.S. counterparts and dominant firms in numerous other industries undergoing a major shift in technology, successfully make the transition to the new technology? This paper explores the history of the commercialization of the transistor radio, Japan's first successful semiconductor product. The history is organized into a theoretical framework to help permit systematic comparison and analysis. Index Terms- Innovation, innovation communities, Japanese technology imports, semiconductors, technological discontinuities, technological innovation, technology imports, technology policy, technology transfer, transistor. © 1998 IEEE Publisher Item Identifier S 0018-9391(98)05250-7.