Developing technologies or learning institutions? Exploring the role of hackathons for developing innovation capability in emerging economies: the case of Taiwan

The paper deals with issues concerning latecomers’ industrial catchup. Using the recent development of hackathons as an example, thisstudy explores how actors in an emerging economy manage toenhance innovation capability through certain events. Based onqualitative studies on the innovation activities and outcomeswithin major hackathons in Taiwan, this paper argues that, thanksto the unique environment and settings of hackathons, industrialactors in Taiwan are able to not only obtain resources andstimulus to facilitate their production of and investments ininnovation, but also to improve local institutions for innovation. Inaddition to demonstrating the nature of these latecomers’enhanced innovation capability, we also explain key mechanismscontributing to hackathons’ specific innovation dynamisms.