... competitive advantages in the global market. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to unravel the implausible upgrading phenomenon from the perspective of technological proximity. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a single case study, specifically that of a leading Chinese e-bike firm...

...Jindrich Spicka Purpose Innovation ecosystems face many environmental challenges. The literature review shows that innovation ecosystems accelerate innovation activity, but empirical studies have not provided enough case studies focusing on the minimum-waste business strategy as one aspect...

... the development of their IC. Design/methodology/approach This paper adopts a multiple-case study of three supplier firms in China and their IC development processes, with a special focus on the nature of the firm-level upgrading in GVCs. Findings The results generate a process model of EMFs upgrading...