Optical illusion? The growth and development of the Optics Valley of China

Miao, J. T. and Hall, P. (2014) Optical illusion? The growth and development of the Optics Valley of China. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 32(5), pp. 863-879. (doi: 10.1068/c1270r)

Abstract

The ‘cultivated’ nature of the Chinese science parks, against the background of a transitional economy, differentiates them from spontaneous and cooperative Western models, and is a phenomenon deserving close examination. We study the dynamics and features of the so-called Optics Valley of China (OVC) in Hubei, aiming to explore the characteristics of an embryonic local innovation system constructed in a less-favoured region. The results show that institutional factors are the leading forces in a cultivated science park like the OVC. However, along with the shifting focus of the local government, the OVC’s industrial scale has remained small and its industrial chain has remained incomplete. Moreover, the lack of trust and interactions between various components in this innovation system has been highly noticeable. All these features may be seen as warnings to the OVC that a revision of this innovation system is needed in order to avoid the fate of becoming an ‘optical illusion’.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Miao, Dr Tian
• Authors: Miao, J. T., and Hall, P.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences > Urban Studies
• Journal Name: Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy
• Publisher: Pion
• ISSN: 0263-774X
• ISSN (Online): 1472-3425
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 Pion and its Licensors
• First Published: First published in Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy 32(5):863-879
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License