Convergence innovation of the textile machinery industry in Korea

This paper aims to explore why the Korean textile machinery industry failed in competencebuilding although its strong user sector, the textile industry of Korea, was once ranked highwith strong competence. It argues that local user firms of the textile machinery industry didnot play a role in building up the competence of specialised suppliers through convergenceinnovation. The diversity of textile machinery is so large that their convergence types ofinnovation are distinctive in creating new functions and products. The convergenceinnovation between the two industries and the resultant positive synergy has not beengenerated much in Korea. Strong user firms rather escaped from cooperative work withspecialised suppliers, which otherwise may have generated convergence innovation andstrengthened their competence. Weak convergence innovation by both textile firms andspecialised suppliers caused their economic activities concurrently downturned. The Koreantextile machinery industry and its user sector have lost their competence in relatively shortperiod.