As the green transition (or renewables capitalism, as the special issue calls it) creates new technological opportunities where incumbents hesitate, these historical insights can guide developing country strategies.

By examining how technological catch-up actually occurred in these detailed cases, we counter defeatist perspectives that focus only on structural constraints of global capitalism or political economy limitations—offering instead an ambitious vision for what economic development can achieve.

Success requires 3 interconnected dynamics, which we detail for each case study.
1. Access foreign knowledge via transnational networks
2. Use knowledge for innovation while securing market demand and financing to scale production
3. Strategic government industrial policy support

We examine how developing countries can leverage (green) windows of opportunity for technological catch-up, drawing lessons from historical experiences: South Korea/Taiwan (semiconductors) and China (EVs).

It isn’t. My comment was on the overall strategic decision for EU policymakers whether to support/prioritize European-owned battery firms.

This is the question it boils down to. What value one attaches to having EU-owned battery producer(s). How likely is it that Chinese battery producers will use their market power against EU carmakers? & how much of a problem would it be? Premium EV makers can use more expensive JP/SK batteries.

The argument in the letter is based on a recent study, co-authored with Lindsay Whitfield: research-api.cbs.dk/ws/portalfil...

I was myself on the podcast to discuss the European Chips Act and EU industrial strategy some months ago.

open.spotify.com/episode/0QPL...