Institute of Economic and Cultural Geography Research Research projects
Standardization of Automated Driving Technologies - An Opportunity for Market Entry of Emerging Regions?

Standardization of Automated Driving Technologies - An Opportunity for Market Entry of Emerging Regions?

Led by:  Dr. Kerstin J. Schäfer
Team:  Lennart Schott
Year:  2022
Funding:  Leibniz Young Investigator Grants
Duration:  2020 - 2022
Is Finished:  yes

Technical standards play a crucial role for the dominance of companies in global industries. A contribution to established standards generates bargaining power and influence in the industry. As an emerging technology, automated driving has the potential to create radical changes in the established structures of the automotive industry. The upcoming shift of competitive core technologies in this industry from creating combustion engines to developing software and machine learning algorithms might affect the location of industry hot spots in global production networks. This window of opportunity offers the potential for companies from regions that did not actively participate in standardization before to strengthen their position. This might enable a shift in technological leadership from established to emerging regions, if companies from these regions are able to utilize this opportunity.

In order to shed light onto this spatial shift and the role of standardization, this project investigates upcoming standards in automated driving. Through the observation of standardization meetings, industry events and qualitative interviews with key actors, the project investigates the role of deciding bodies. A central question is if experts from all over the world are able to participate and which are the core regions that contribute to standardization in this field. Experts are identified on industry events as well as via standardization documents such as from the Standards Association des Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), to which the Leibniz University Hannover has access via the Technische Informationsbibliothek.

The results will provide an overview on which regions contribute to automated driving technologies and show possible shifts in core technologies for the automotive industry. From a theoretical perspective, this creates new insights into shifts in technological leadership through technological change. From a methodological perspective, the project provides new knowledge about how researchers can utilize indicators from standardization documents to analyze the spatial patterns of technology development and industry leadership. From a political perspective, this project aims at showing how to support regional industries in making use of windows of opportunity and gaining influence on global standardization to foster regional economic development.

 

Publications

  • Schott, L.; Schaefer, K. J. (2023): Acceptance of Chinese latecomers' technological contributions in international ICT standardization — The role of origin, experience and collaboration. Research Policy 51(1), 104656. DOI: 10.1016/j.respol.2022.104656


Presentations to Scientific Audiences

  • Schott, L.: Chinese Latecomers in International ICT Standardization. 6th Global Conference on Economic Geography. Dublin, 09.06.2022.
  • Schott, L.: Chinese Latecomers in International ICT Standardization. Second Annual Empirical Research Conference on Standardization. Northwestern University, Chicago (USA) - 05.05.2022.
  • Schott, L.: Chinese Latecomers in International ICT Standardization. Arbeitskreis Industriegeographie 2021. Online - 25.11.2021.
  • Schott, L.: Latecomers in International ICT Standardization - How Origin and Experience Impact the Acceptance of Technological Contributions. 25th EURAS Annual Standardisation Conference / 11th International Conference on Standardisation and Innovation in Information Technology. Online/Aachen 07.09.2021.
  • Schott, L.: Latecomers in International ICT Standardization - How Origin and Experience Impact the Acceptance of Technological Contributions. Regions in Recovery Global E-Festival. Online 10.06.2021.