How do Chinese high-tech firms respond to the techno-geopolitics age? From knowledge seeking to knowledge creation

Achieving independent technological innovation (IDTI) through technological leapfrogging has become a top strategic priority for high-tech firms aiming to thrive in the era of techno-geopolitics. However, existing research lacks a comprehensive analysis of the transformation process from imitative technological innovation (IMTI) to IDTI, particularly from the perspective of knowledge seeking (KS) and knowledge creation (KC) activities. To address this gap, this study conducts a double-case comparative case analysis of two highly successful Chinese high-tech firms-one in advanced manufacturing and the other in the ICT industry. This study explores how these firms transition from leveraging KS for IMTI to fostering KC for IDTI. This study offers a deeper exploration into the interaction and conversion of private and public knowledge through specific knowledge activities across different organizational strategies. It examines how high-tech firms transition from KS to KC, revealing the process mechanism behind their shift from IMTI to IDTI. Additionally, this study uncovers the inherent nature of evolutionary upgrading-open knowledge transcendence-and interprets its intrinsic nature from exploitative and exploratory perspectives. By doing so, this study contributes to knowledge creation theory and organizational theory in the techno-geopolitics age, filling the gap in research on the evolution of technological innovation from a knowledge-based perspective.