Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center Stanford University


Shorenstein APARC Events


The Cheapest Car in the World: Low-Cost Disruptive Innovation by Tata Motors  

SPRIE Seminar

Date and Time
October 15, 2009
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM

Availability
Open to the public
No RSVP required


Speaker
Chaisung Lim - Stanford University


About the event:

Last July, Tata Motors began selling the $2,500 Nano, the cheapest car in the world. Some argue that the impact of this automobile innovation may equal that of Ford's 1908 Model T in its creation of a new, low-income market.

However there remains a puzzle: Tata Motors has been producing imitative car models, lacking the technical prowess to develop new-to-the-world innovation. How has the company made innovative breakthroughs in spite of weak technological competence? Dr. Lim, as an expert on catching-up innovation, will explain the process and discuss the implications of the case for further understanding emerging innovation activities in developing countries.

About the speaker:

Chaisung Lim first developed his interest in technology issues as a management student, focusing on appropriate technology for developing countries. This led him to pursue issues on appropriate technology, firm level innovation and industrial competitiveness for his master and PhD theses and his career at the Korea Development Institute. His international research papers have concentrated on the management of technology for catching up at firm and national levels. He has participated in committees and project teams providing consultation on industrial and technology policies for the Korean and Turkish governments. He is currently a professor at the Miller School of MOT and Professor at the MOT/MBA program at Konkuk University, Seoul. He received the BA in Management at Sogang University, the Master's in Management at Seoul National University and the PhD in Technology Management at SPRU at the University of Sussex.

Topics: Innovation | South Korea

Location
Daniel and Nancy Okimoto Conference Room
Encina Hall, 3rd floor, east wing
616 Serra St.
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305
» Directions/Map


FSI Contact
George Krompacky