Technology gap between Korea, China and Japan shrinking

The Korea Development Bank has disclosed that the current technical level of China falls behind that of Korea by 3.8 years and that of Japan is ahead that of Korea by 2.2 years. These results were derived from a questionnaire survey of 497 major industrial clients of the state bank.

Taking 100 as the benchmark for Korea, China comes out at 76.5 and Japan at 110.5, indicating a rapid narrowing of their technical gap. In or around 2010, China is expected to figure at 94.5 and Japan at 102.1, further narrowing the technology gap.

At present, China’s technical level is assessed by the KDB to be only 1.8 years behind Korea in the consumer electronics sector, 2.3 years in textile, 2.3 years in communications equipment and 2.5 years in computers. If the present trends continue, China’s technical prowess is expected to catch up with Korea’s in 2007 in the chemical industry and textiles. By 2010, China is estimated to overtake Korea in textiles, and match Korea in consumer electronics, communications equipment and semiconductors.

Korea is now on the par with Japan in semiconductors and expected to catch up with Japan in 2007 in computers, shipbuilding and consumer electronics, according to the survey. In 2010, Korea is assessed to outstrip Japan in semiconductor technology and be on the par with Japan in textile, communications equipment, petro-chemicals, steel and automobile.