Taiwan illustrates the movement of NIEs toward new technology development and improvement of previously established technologies. (See text table 6-3 and appendix table 6-19.) As recently as 1980, Taiwanese patent activity in the United States was predominantly in the area of toys and other amusement devices. By 1991, Taiwan was active in more highly technical classes, gaining U.S. patents in such areas as communications technology, semiconductor manufacturing processes, and internal combustion engines. (See NSB 1991, chapter 6.) The latest data now show that inventors from Taiwan have added superconductor technology to their list of patent classes.

U.S. patenting by South Korean inventors is heavily concentrated in the patent classes that include electrical products and electronic component technologies. (See text table 6-3 and appendix table 6-20.) South Korea is also very active in such commercially significant technologies as semiconductor devices and computer peripheral equipment. In fact, South Korea is already a major supplier of computers and peripherals to the United States, and these patent activity data show that the country's inventors may be developing the improvements that will support South Korea's future competitiveness in these technologies. (Click here for footnote 41.)

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