Managing Foreign R&D Laboratories in China

Abstract- Local R&D laboratories are traditionally a primary source of information and technology involving local talent and intelligence. This paper focuses on R&D units established by foreign companies in China, investigating their R&D mission, laboratory management, integration with the parent organizations, and overall performance. The research is based on 28 qualitative expert interviews with local R&D directors and managers conducted in 2001 and 2002, using a semi-structured research questionnaire. The implications focus on findings pertaining to the special Chinese environment: cultural influences on R&D management, location advantages, expatriate involvement, and organizational evolution of local laboratories. “China will go from being on the receiving side of technology to the generating side.