From a technological point of view related to advanced technology like for example batteries for cars, China's companies, independently are way way behind, same for example in "green hydrogen" production. Russia, just forget about them, their only strength is still in metallurgy as it almost always was for reasons to be explained.
As the greatest experts in copycats the Chinese industry is quickly adapting and implementing western technology (including solar panels) and enter mass production, but still based on academic papers I do read and that deal with advanced technology the Western Civilization countries are far more innovative per capita than China.
Important to remember China has around 1,400 million people and they are not all brain dead compared to about over 3 times of all EU countries, 330 million of the US, 84 million in Germany, 68 million in the UK, 51 million in S. Korea or 10 million in Sweden a very advanced per capita technological country. India will be the next technological powerhouse as they are learning fast, but are much more polite than other countries, but play the same game.
An acquaintance of mine a PhD from TAU dreaming to climb the corporate ladder, went to an interview to Apple about 4 years ago the response was - your knowledge is very interesting…… She was not hired by Apple.
My point is for example that if even the State of Israel claims to be a "Start -Up Nation" it is just aspiration but not reality. It is all smoke and mirrors, in true homegrown innovation Israel lags badly (except cyber security where the IDF pours billions with US assistance and every other soldier working in those departments starts a "start-up" on gained knowledge form his IDF service) they copy a lot from the former USSR and CEES countries and of course the EU and US. For example thousand of software writers and academics are working in Bulgaria , Romania or Ukraine for Israeli companies
In this respect China is not different and I see it on LinkedIn and who reads my write-ups.
Being fast at copying making small changes to avoid IP rights, of know how, does not make a nation innovative. I witnessed same with Russian authorities, (cost me years of work until I finally got it – of course they used a very flattering personal approach) and same with Chinese representatives who contacted me.
The bottom line is that for the Western legal system on IP, most countries that are the real competitors they are out of reach and IP ownership cannot be enforced.
Patents in those cases are mostly useless, and only giants like Apple could enforce the most stupid patent in cell phones "with rounded corners".
In this respect I would attribute "kudos" to Elon Musk that made his homework, read the map of IP ownership quite quickly and referred to TESLA patents more than a badge of honor, than true ownership, and this way gained popularity and ample copycats which are now his under-priced suppliers.
Those with strong unjustified nationalistic feelings please do not respond as they would be ignored. |
